Be on the lookout for the following bogus Facebook message from Facebook Security Network (not the real Facebook Security). It is a phishing attempt to gain access to Facebook user accounts:

Here is a copy of an actual email:

Notice how the scammers are using a mix of bogus links and legitimate Facebook links to make the scam appear authentic. One BIG, red flag is that the verification link. Facebook would not redirect users to http://shortlink.tk/gh/accountconfirm for account verification.

If an unsuspecting user clicks on the link, they are taken to the following page:

Clicking the ‘Continue’ button loads the following page:

Obviously, the “Steps” that users click though are designed to extract Facebook login information and other personal details. The final page of the scam is shown below:

If a user submits their Facebook login credentials, then the scammer will have complete control over their account. They can access their personal information to try and steal their identity, they can send bogus messages to their friends stating that they are in trouble and please send money, they can send links to other scams to all of the victim’s Facebook friends….the opportunities for misuse and exploitation are endless!

How to Deal with the Scam:

If you entered your Facebook login credentials on the scam page, then you need to try to reclaim your account. Check out the following article for additional steps you should take:

Four Things you need to do if your Facebook account gets hacked

Be sure to let your Facebook friends know that your account has been compromised and not to click on any links that are sent from you.

If you or your Facebook friends are falling for tricks like this, it’s time to get yourself informed of the latest threats. Be sure to join the Facecrooks page on Facebook to be kept informed of the latest security issues. Also check out:

Your Ultimate Guide to Facebook Scams and How to Deal with Them

How to spot a Facebook Survey Scam