Facebook is home to over 2 billion users, which unfortunately means it’s also a target for scammers and spammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting people. While Facebook has systems in place to detect and remove scams, users can also play a role by reporting suspicious accounts or posts they come across. But what exactly happens when you report a scammer on Facebook? Here’s an overview of the reporting process and how Facebook investigates reports of scams.
How to Report a Scammer
If you come across a Facebook post, page, group or profile that you suspect is a scam, you can easily report it to Facebook with just a few clicks. Here’s how:
- Click the three dots “…” icon next to the post or in the corner of the page/profile
- Select “Report” or “Report Page” (or “Report Group” etc)
- Choose the option “Scam” and click “Continue”
- Confirm why you’re reporting the post or page as a scam
Facebook also allows you to report specific messages as scams. To do this:
- Open the message thread
- Click the three dots icon next to the message
- Select “Report as Scam”
- Confirm the report reason
You can provide additional details that may help Facebook investigate the issue in the text box before submitting the report.
What Happens When You Report a Scammer
Once you submit a scam report, here are some key things that happen behind the scenes:
Review by Facebook’s Community Operations Team
Your report is immediately reviewed by Facebook’s Community Operations team, which is tasked with reviewing reports and enforcing Facebook’s policies. They will assess the reported content based on Facebook’s Community Standards to determine if it violates any policies.
Account Investigation
If the reported content is found to be scammy, Facebook will then investigate the associated account or page to identify any additional policy-violating behavior. This can include reviewing the account’s past posts, comments and connections to determine if it meets Facebook’s criteria for fake accounts involved in scams or other prohibited activity.
Disabling of Accounts
If an account is confirmed to be engaged in scam activity based on the investigation, Facebook will disable the account to prevent further abuse. Pageadmins and profiles confirmed as scams will be removed entirely so they can no longer post content or interact with other users.
Removing of Scam Content
In addition to disabling accounts, Facebook will remove any scam posts, messages or groups that were reported and confirmed through investigation. This helps stop the spread of scams on Facebook.
Providing Feedback to User
Once the investigation is complete, Facebook may send a notification to let the reporting user know the outcome. For privacy reasons, the details may be limited but generally will confirm if action was taken against a scam report.
How Facebook Investigates Scam Reports
Facebook takes scam reports seriously and has dedicated teams working around the clock to review reports and perform investigations. Here is some insight into how Facebook determines if something is a scam and their scam investigation process:
Scam Detection Technology
Facebook utilizes advanced technology and AI to detect possible scams at scale. Some signals their systems look for include:
- Accounts quickly sending identical messages to many users
- Coordination between groups of fraudulent accounts
- Reports from users across Facebook
- Activity patterns commonly seen in scams
Any accounts or content flagged by these automated protections undergo further review.
Content Reviewers
Facebook employs thousands of trained content reviewers that assess reported posts and accounts in detail around the clock. These reviewers can check reported content against Facebook’s scam policies and use tools to gain additional insight into associated accounts.
Escalation to Specialized Teams
Complex scams may get escalated to more specialized review teams at Facebook. This includes:
- User Operations – Handles account investigations and disabling
- Threat Intelligence – Identifies sophisticated scam networks
- Compromised Account Teams – Works to secure hacked accounts
These teams use advanced manual review and analysis techniques tailored to their areas of expertise.
Collaboration with Law Enforcement
For serious scams, Facebook may collaborate with cybercrime authorities and law enforcement agencies. They can provide information to assist investigations and enforcement actions beyond Facebook’s platform.
What Kinds of Scams Get Removed
Facebook removes a wide variety of scam tactics from their platform. Here are some examples of scams that commonly get reported and disabled:
Fake Prize/Lottery Scams
Scammers pretend you won a prize, lottery or giveaway to trick you into paying money or fees to claim it.
Phishing Scams
Scammers attempt to obtain login credentials, credit card details or personal information through fake pages or profiles that mimic trusted brands.
Romance Scams
Scammers use fake dating profiles to form relationships and eventually ask for money or gifts from victims.
Tech Support Scams
Scammers falsely claim you have a device issue and try to get remote access or charge you money for useless tech support services.
Fake Charities
Scam fundraisers use emotive stories to collect donations but have no intent to use the money for legitimate charitable work.
Financial Scams
Get-rich-quick schemes, cryptocurrency scams, fraudulent investment opportunities and other financial scams are prevalent on Facebook.
Shopping Scams
Scammers create fake shopping posts and profiles to steal payment for products that are never shipped.
Employment Scams
Fake job posts trick job seekers into paying for training, certifications or fees instead of gaining real employment.
Identity Theft
Scammers steal and use personal information like photos or date of birth to create fake profiles for criminal activity.
Scam Statistics on Facebook
Facebook publishes regular Transparency Reports that provide data and trends on how they enforce policies and standards on their platforms.
Here are some key statistics Facebook disclosed related to scams:
Accounts Actioned for Scams
| Year | Accounts Actioned |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.7 Billion |
| 2020 | 3.3 Billion |
| 2021 | 2.3 Billion |
This table shows the number of accounts Facebook took action against for scam policy violations, including disabling accounts. The high numbers indicate Facebook’s level of effort against scams.
Scam Reports from Users
| Year | User Scam Reports |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 26 Million |
| 2020 | 67 Million |
| 2021 | 32 Million |
The volume of user-generated scam reports shows that Facebook users are helping identify scams but the high numbers also indicate the scale of scam activity.
Estimated Scam Prevention
Facebook estimates that for every $1 spent by scammers, their detection systems prevent $5 of potential harm. This suggests scammers are having difficulty successfully perpetrating scams on Facebook due to proactive protections.
Tips to Identify and Avoid Scams on Facebook
While Facebook works to combat scams, users should also be vigilant. Here are some tips to recognize and avoid getting scammed on Facebook:
Watch for Red Flags in Messages
Be wary of messages from strangers that seem too good to be true, pressure you to act fast, or request sensitive information or money. These are signs of a scam.
Verify Suspicious Offers
Don’t believe every post or message claiming you won a prize or giveaway. Look up the company or check if the offer is real before claiming anything.
Research Friends Sending Unusual Messages
Scammers may hack into your friends’ accounts. If you get an odd message, check that friend’s profile for anything suspicious.
Hover Over Links Before Clicking
Scammers use misleading links. Hover to preview the URL before clicking to ensure it’s legitimate and not a scam phishing link.
Use Strong Passwords
Weak passwords make it easier for scammers to hack Facebook accounts for identity theft scams. Use long, complex passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Be Wary in Facebook Groups and Marketplace
Scams are common in Groups and Marketplace listings. Deal locally and only with trusted buyers or sellers.
Don’t Accept Random Friend Requests
It’s safer to only accept friend requests from people you already know, to avoid your network getting exposed to potential scammers.
Look for Facebook’s Verified Badge
Legitimate businesses and public figures have a blue verified badge on their profiles. Lack of a badge could signal a scam account.
Conclusion
Reporting scams is an important way Facebook users can help keep the platform safer and prevent harm to others. When you report a scammer, Facebook’s teams investigate and take action to disable accounts, remove content and prevent known scams from spreading. Ongoing improvements to Facebook’s scam detection also allows more proactive protections. Staying vigilant when online, using security tools like strong passwords, and not providing sensitive information to strangers can also keep you safer from scams across the internet.