Facebook Impersonators

If you use Facebook, at some point you've probably received a "Friend Request" from someone who is already one of your friends.  This means their account has been hacked.  Most of us just "ignore" the request, but there really are a couple more steps you should take.  (Thank you, Ginger Lewman, for the tips).

"Unfortunately, too many really smart people make the wrong choice: they ignore it. And the impersonation continues and dupes more people and spreads like wildfire. It’s like swatting flies — if we ignore them, they only breed and end up bothering us more!

In 2017, we want to be better digital citizens and help each other out when we see this. There are 2 things you want to remember when you see a fake-friend requesting fake-friendship:
You 1) REPORT and 2) BLOCK. And in that order.

When we all immediately REPORT and BLOCK, the fake account is reviewed by Facebook and frequently taken down. The more of us who report, the quicker it is taken down. And the more often you report, Facebook remembers you as a good person and listens to your reports quicker (I think).

Here are a couple links to help you 1) REPORT and 2) BLOCK (in that order)

• How to report a FB account that is impersonating you:
  https://www.facebook.com/help/174210519303259
• How to report a FB account that’s impersonating someone else:
  https://www.facebook.com/help/167722253287296 "

Ginger Lewman works for ESSDACK in Hutchinson, KS (formerly employed by USD 253, Emporia)