Facebook Messenger Scam — When a "Friend" Asks for Money or a Code
You received a Messenger message from a friend asking for help with an urgent situation, requesting money via gift card or bank transfer, or asking you to forward a code. Your friend's account has been compromised. Scammers clone or hack Facebook profiles to exploit the trust between friends and family.
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How This Scam Works
High Risk — Friend Impersonation on Facebook Messenger
If a friend on Messenger suddenly asks for money or a verification code, their account has likely been compromised. Verify through a different channel before responding.
Note: This scam typically arrives via Facebook Messenger, not email. If you received a suspicious email, forward it to check@scam.support for a free risk assessment. For social media scams, report to the FTC — see all reporting agencies.
You receive a Messenger message from a friend asking for help with an urgent situation, requesting money via gift card or bank transfer, or asking you to forward a verification code. Your friend's account has been compromised. Scammers hack or clone Facebook profiles to exploit the trust between friends and family.
In some variations, the scammer creates a duplicate Facebook profile using your friend's name and photos, then sends friend requests to all their contacts. Once connected, they message you with urgent money requests. In other cases, the scammer gains direct access to your friend's real account through stolen credentials.
Red Flags
- Friend suddenly asks for money via Messenger
- They request payment through gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- They ask you to forward a code you received by SMS
- Their messages have a different tone or writing style than usual
- They cannot voice or video call to prove who they are
What You Should Do
What To Do
- Do not send money or share any codes
- Call or text your friend through a different channel to verify
- Report the account to Facebook if it is cloned
- Warn mutual friends about the compromised account
- If your own account was compromised, change your password and enable two-factor authentication
Sources
- Facebook Help Center — Hacked and Impersonation Accounts
- FTC Consumer Advice — Scams that start on social media