• Be Aware
    • Hazards
      • Earthquake
      • Extreme Cold
      • Extreme Heat
      • Household Fire Dangers
      • Flooding
        • Turn Around – Don’t Drown
      • Hazardous Spills
      • High Winds
      • Ice Storm
      • Lightning
      • Power Outages
        • Generator Safety
        • Carbon Monoxide Dangers
      • Severe Storms & Thunderstorms
      • Tornado
    • Radio Lexington
    • Get Involved
      • CERT
    • CSEPP
      • History of CSEPP
      • CSEPP in Kentucky
      • Blue Grass Army Depot
      • Chemical Agent Disposal
      • CSEPP in Fayette County
      • Zones
    • Get the BeReady Phone App
    • NOAA Weather Radio
    • Outdoor Warning Sirens
      • Siren FAQ
    • How to Be Prepared for Emergencies – American Sign Language
  • Make a Plan
    • Planning for AFN/Disability Groups
    • Equine Preparedness Plans
    • Farm Preparedness
    • Pet Preparedness Plans
    • Senior Preparedness Plans
    • Hazard Mitigation Plan
    • Shelter in Place Plans
    • Special Events-How to get a permit
    • Travel Plans
    • Utility Shutoff Plans
    • Ready Kat
  • Build a Kit
    • Your financial emergency kit
    • Vehicle Emergency Kits
    • Emergency Kits
    • Home Emergency Kits
    • Pet Emergency Kits
  • About Us
    • What We Do
    • Who We Are
    • Forms
    • Newsletters
    • Emergency Operations Center
    • Contact Us
    • Training
    • Library
    • Privacy Policy – Website Terms and Conditions
Be Ready Lexington
  • Be Aware
    • Hazards
      • Earthquake
      • Extreme Cold
      • Extreme Heat
      • Household Fire Dangers
      • Flooding
        • Turn Around – Don’t Drown
      • Hazardous Spills
      • High Winds
      • Ice Storm
      • Lightning
      • Power Outages
        • Generator Safety
        • Carbon Monoxide Dangers
      • Severe Storms & Thunderstorms
      • Tornado
    • Radio Lexington
    • Get Involved
      • CERT
    • CSEPP
      • History of CSEPP
      • CSEPP in Kentucky
      • Blue Grass Army Depot
      • Chemical Agent Disposal
      • CSEPP in Fayette County
      • Zones
    • Get the BeReady Phone App
    • NOAA Weather Radio
    • Outdoor Warning Sirens
      • Siren FAQ
    • How to Be Prepared for Emergencies – American Sign Language
  • Make a Plan
    • Planning for AFN/Disability Groups
    • Equine Preparedness Plans
    • Farm Preparedness
    • Pet Preparedness Plans
    • Senior Preparedness Plans
    • Hazard Mitigation Plan
    • Shelter in Place Plans
    • Special Events-How to get a permit
    • Travel Plans
    • Utility Shutoff Plans
    • Ready Kat
  • Build a Kit
    • Your financial emergency kit
    • Vehicle Emergency Kits
    • Emergency Kits
    • Home Emergency Kits
    • Pet Emergency Kits
  • About Us
    • What We Do
    • Who We Are
    • Forms
    • Newsletters
    • Emergency Operations Center
    • Contact Us
    • Training
    • Library
    • Privacy Policy – Website Terms and Conditions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Be Aware

Scam Alert! – Facebook Messenger Gift Offers are Fake

Scam Alert! – Facebook Messenger Gift Offers are Fake
DEM Blogger
November 30, 2017

Area consumers say that they are being told through Facebook Messenger they’ve won money or grants…but there are fees required to receive them. Better Business Bureau® serving Central & Eastern Kentucky warns Facebook users that such messages are fraudulent.

A Whitley County Facebook user told BBB that a Facebook “friend” messaged her that her name was on a list to receive a “windfall” and gave her an out-of-state phone number to text for details. She thought this did not sound legitimate, and suspected that her friend’s Facebook account had been hacked by a scammer.

Another Facebook user emailed BBB that a woman messaged her that she’d won money from Publisher’s Clearinghouse, but must pay a $200.00 fee to receive it. And a Boyd County Facebook user was told by someone through messenger that she could get financial help from a legitimate charitable group…but led her to a phone number to text that was not that group at all. They too, wanted a processing fee.

This is a common scam exploiting the ties that Facebook users have with other Facebook “friends.” Scammers will “hack” or replicate a user’s account, then send messages to everyone on that person’s Facebook friend list. This increases the chances that someone could fall for a scam, because the message came from someone they believed was a person they know.

BBB reminds the public that legitimate notifications of prize winnings or grants do NOT come via social media…and it is illegal to require a fee to collect a prize.

Tips to help protect against Facebook scams:

  • Don’t believe everything you read on Facebook Messenger, even if it appears to be from someone you know and trust…especially if it involves receiving or sending money.
  • Don’t automatically accept new Facebook Friend requests with names you know without first verifying that the person isn’t already on your “friend” list. If he/she is, it could be a sign that his/her account has been hacked.
  • To help protect your Facebook account and “friends” list, go to “privacy settings” and choose the option to make your “friends” list visible to “only me” rather than “public.”

Check out bbb.org to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, report a scam, read tips, follow us on social media, and more! Report scams to www.bbb.org/scamtracker.

Contact the Better Business Bureau serving Central & Eastern Kentucky to check out companies, charities, or to report problems and scams by calling the Lexington office at (859) 259-1008 or toll-free 1-800-866-6668. Services are also available by logging on to www.bbb.org/lexington.

 

Source:  Better Business Bureau of Central and Eastern Kentucky

Related ItemsFeatured
Be Aware
November 30, 2017
DEM Blogger

Related ItemsFeatured

More in Be Aware

February is American Heart Month

DEM BloggerFebruary 18, 2020
Read More

Skywarn Weather Spotter Training Tonight

DEM BloggerMarch 4, 2019
Read More

It’s time to fall back one hour and safety check your home

DEM BloggerNovember 2, 2018
Read More

How to stay aware of emergencies

DEM BloggerOctober 24, 2018
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Copyright © 2018.

Get Ready for Black Friday Shopping Frenzy
National Emergency Mobile Phone Alert Test on Oct. 3