Getting random friend requests from strangers on Facebook can be annoying and concerning. While some requests may be from genuine people looking to connect, others could be from scammers or people with ulterior motives. Fortunately, Facebook provides tools to manage friend requests and tighten account security. Here are some tips on stopping random Facebook friend requests.
Adjust Privacy Settings
The first step is adjusting your Facebook privacy settings to restrict who can send you friend requests. Go to “Settings & Privacy” then “Settings.” Under “Privacy,” click “Edit” next to “Who can send you friend requests?” The default setting is “Everyone,” allowing anyone to request you. Switch this to “Friends of Friends” to limit requests to people with mutual connections. For maximum privacy, choose “Friends” so only your confirmed friends can request you.
Review Your Public Profile
Randomers often send requests after viewing your public profile info. To reduce unsolicited requests, review what’s visible to the public under “Settings & Privacy” then “Public Profile.” Limit public access to posts, photos, friends list, and other info that strangers could view. Keep personal details like your workplace, university, and current city hidden. The less public info available, the fewer random requests you may receive.
Ignore or Decline Requests
When you do get random friend requests, consider ignoring or declining them. Ignoring a request leaves it pending; the person may resend it later hoping you’ll accept. Declining rejects the request so they can’t send it again, sending a clearer message you’re not interested in connecting.
To ignore a request, leave it in your requests list. To decline, click the three-dot icon next to the request and select “Decline.” You can also report suspicious requests. Click the three-dot icon and choose “Report,” then select options like “This is a fake account” or “I don’t know this person.” Reporting helps Facebook identify and remove accounts violating policies.
Automatically Decline Strangers
Manually declining requests can be tedious. To save time, enable auto-declining of requests from non-friends under “Settings & Privacy” then “Settings.” Go to “Blocking” and toggle on “Automatically decline friend requests from people I don’t know.” This automatically rejects requests if you have no mutual friends or declined the person previously.
Block Specific Users
If certain people persistently send you requests, block them. Click the three-dot icon on any request and select “Block.” This prevents them from viewing your profile or sending any friend or message requests. To block someone who hasn’t sent a request, visit their profile and click on the three-dot icon, then “Block.”
Restrict Messages from Non-Friends
Some users try to message you before sending a friend request. Stop them by restricting who can message you. Go to “Settings & Privacy,” click “Settings,” then go to “Messaging.” Under “Who can send you messages?” select “Friends” to allow messages only from confirmed friends. Choose “Friends of Friends” to also allow mutual connections to message you.
Avoid Posting Your Contact Info
Never post your email address, phone number, or other contact info on your profile or in posts. This gives strangers an avenue to contact you besides sending friend requests. If they message you first, some platforms like Messenger may allow them to friend request you. Keep contact details private.
Don’t Accept Requests to See Profiles
When you decline a friend request on Facebook, the user gets notified you rejected them. Some users then send a follow-up message asking you to accept their request so you can view their profile and “see they’re legitimate.” Decline these requests – accepting just to preview their profile can give scammers an opening.
Review Tags on Your Posts
Check any photos or posts where you’re tagged by strangers. Friends of those users may see the tags and send you requests. Untag yourself from posts by people you don’t know. Also adjust tag review settings under “Settings & Privacy” so you must approve all tags from non-friends before they appear on your profile.
Beware Friend Requests from Attractive Strangers
Friending an attractive stranger may seem tempting, but be cautious. Scammers often use fake profiles with photos of attractive people to send friend requests and build networks. Don’t accept these requests – the “person” is likely a fraudster who will later try scamming you or your friends.
Check for Mutual Friends
When receiving a request from someone unfamiliar, click on their profile to check for mutual friends. Having mutual connections increases the chance the person genuinely wants to connect versus randomly spamming users. But exercise caution even with mutual friends – scammers sometimes grow networks by friending many unrelated people.
Reverse Image Search Profile Photos
Conduct a reverse image search on a user’s profile picture to check if it’s used elsewhere online. This can reveal whether the photo is stolen and the account fake. On Google Images, click the camera icon to upload the profile photo. If the image appears on many other sites, it’s likely a fake account using a stock photo.
Look for Suspicious Profile Details
Watch for red flags that could signal a fake account, like:
- No posts or photos
- Very few friends
- Account recently created
- Profile lacks personal details
- Photos look professionally edited or too perfect
The more suspicious details, the higher the chance the request is from an untrustworthy account. When in doubt, decline or ignore the request.
Conclusion
Random friend requests on Facebook can be concerning, but protecting your account is straightforward. Adjust privacy settings to limit who can find and request you, decline suspicious requests, and block persistent users. Restricting public info also reduces unwanted attention. With caution and common sense, you can control who connects with you on Facebook.