![]() We’ve recently heard from ne arly a d ozen consumers who have c o ntacted about scammers using Facebook’s Messenger service to try to defraud them by posing as long lost friends. Unfortunately, like other popular social media platforms, it also attracts scammers looking to abuse the system for their own gain. WWMT reached out to the Michigan Attorney General's Office but has not heard back.Facebook is a terrific tool for stay ing in touch with old friends, former classmates, family, and community members. This is a friend I've had for years," Ruth said. I was actually suspicious before that, but keep going back to the fact I saw his face, his lips move. Law enforcement officials recommend Facebook and social media users double-check security settings. "Ultimately there are so many of these crimes and now one good place to go," Fuller said.įuller's department has investigated other scams that include fake Facebook profiles claiming people won the lottery and asking to provide personal information, such as a physical address or bank details. ![]() The sheriff's office recommended anyone who falls victim should report it to local law enforcement, who can link up with state and federal agencies to best help. The Kalamazoo County incident is a reminder for people not to take everything at face value, Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said. Reports of cyber attacks using face- and voice-altering technology jumped 13% last year, according to VMware's annual Global Incident Response Threat Report, released in August. The Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan recommends reporting any suspicious activity to the BBB and never trusting message requests for money over social media messaging apps. " We strongly encourage people to be wary of unexpected, unusual messages and calls from existing contacts and report suspicious messages and friend requests to Meta right away so we can take action," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. "He said, 'No, take it back it's not me,'" Ruth said.įacebook has removed large numbers of impersonating and scam accounts on a consistent basis, according to a Meta spokesperson. Ruth figured out the hackers were behind the messages when she sent $200 to the man's Cash App account under his phone number, not to a username hackers provided, she said. I saw his lips moving and saw his face, and it was definitely him. She received an 18-second video call where she saw the man's face on the Facebook Messenger video call, she said. "He seemed somewhat urgent and that had me concerned," Ruth said. Ruth said she wanted to help her friend and agreed to exchange messages. I'll pay you back with additional fees," according to the Facebook message. She received a Facebook message from what she thought was her friend around 6:30 a.m. One of the people that received his call was a Kalamazoo County woman WWMT agreed to identify as Ruth. He believed his Facebook account was taken over by hackers when dozens of Facebook friends received video calls for money from his profile over the weekend. The person urgently requested $200 on Cash App, according to the man. ![]() (WWMT) - A pair of Michigan residents were duped by hackers using artificial video technology in a scheme popping up on Facebook's Messenger app.Ī Kalamazoo County man, who didn't want to be identified for privacy reasons, received a Facebook Messenger video call from a friend, who looked exactly like her, he said.
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