It can be annoying and concerning when Facebook adds friend requests from people you don’t know. Here are some common reasons why this happens and what you can do about it.
You Have Mutual Friends
The most common reason Facebook adds friend requests is because you have several mutual friends with that person. Facebook’s algorithm sees that connection and automatically sends a friend request on their behalf, thinking you might want to connect.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the person themselves sent the request initially. They may not have even been aware of it until you appeared as a friend suggestion on their end.
How to Handle Mutual Friend Requests
If you share several mutual friends, the person may not be a total stranger, even if you don’t recognize them. You have a few options:
- Accept the friend request if you want to connect with them.
- Ignore or delete the request if you don’t know them.
- Message your mutual friends to ask who the person is and how you might know each other before deciding whether to accept.
Your Privacy Settings are Loose
Another reason random friends may be added is if your privacy settings allow it. Here are some relevant settings to check:
Who can send you friend requests?
Go to Settings > Privacy > How people can find and contact you. Under “Who can send you friend requests?” choose “Friends of Friends” or “Only Friends” if you want to limit requests.
Who can see your friends list?
In the same “How people can find and contact you” section, find “Who can see your friends list?” and select “Only Me” if you don’t want your list visible.
Limit the audience for posts
When making a post, use the audience selector to choose “Friends” instead of “Public.” Strangers won’t be able to see your posts and connect that way.
Your Profile is Searchable
Even if your friends list isn’t public, people may still find your profile if your privacy settings allow searchability.
To change this, go to Settings > Privacy > How people can find and contact you. Under “Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile?” select “No.”
You Have a Common Name
If you have a very common first and last name combination, someone may have found you mistakenly. This can happen when someone is searching for their actual friend but selects the wrong person with the same name from the results.
How to Handle Wrong Identity Requests
- Delete or ignore the request.
- Optionally, message the person to let them know they requested the wrong person.
- Consider adding your middle name or maiden name to your profile to differentiate yourself.
You Signed Up for Something
Sometimes apps or websites will ask to access your Facebook friends list. If you allow it, they may automatically send friend requests without your knowledge.
To prevent this, be very selective when granting account access to third-party apps. Make sure you trust the app and review what account permissions you are allowing.
Your Account was Compromised
In rare cases, random friend requests could indicate your account was compromised. A hacker may be adding friends to message spam or malware links.
Signs your account may be hacked:
- Unusual posts made under your name that you didn’t create.
- Messages sent to your friends that you didn’t send.
- Emails from Facebook about account activity you don’t recognize.
If you suspect your account was hacked, change your password immediately and enable two-factor authentication for stronger security.
You Have Similar Interests
Facebook may suggest new friends based on shared interests like pages you both like or groups you belong to, even if you don’t have mutual friends.
This is more likely if you have a public profile or visible friends/interests list. Use the privacy settings mentioned earlier to control this.
It’s a Fake Account or Spammer
Fake accounts are rampant on Facebook, often created for spamming or scams. You may receive a request from an obvious fake profile. Signs include:
- No profile photo or posts.
- Suspicious or vague name.
- Lots of mutual friends added in a short time.
These types of accounts should be reported and deleted or ignored.
What to Do About Unwanted Requests
Here are your options if someone you don’t know sends a friend request:
Delete or Ignore the Request
If you want nothing to do with the person, you can outright ignore or delete the request:
- On your Facebook homepage, click Friends in the left sidebar.
- Click Requests to view pending requests.
- Hover over the person’s name and click Delete Request or Ignore.
Add the Person to Your Restricted List
If you don’t want to connect with someone but also don’t want to risk offending them by rejecting them, you can add them to your Restricted list:
- Go to their profile.
- Click the three dots icon next to Message.
- Select Add to Restricted List.
This will automatically reject their friend request. It will also prevent them from viewing your profile or posts in the future.
Message the Person
You can send them a message to politely ask who they are and why they sent a request. This gives them a chance to explain the reason.
Based on their answer, you can accept the request, politely decline, or report/block them if it seems suspicious.
Preventing Unwanted Requests
Here are some tips to keep your account secure and avoid unwanted friend requests:
- Use strong privacy settings by allowing requests and searches from friends only.
- Review your approved apps and remove any you don’t use or trust.
- Don’t accept requests from vague or suspicious looking profiles.
- Enable login notifications or two-factor authentication.
- Use a complex and unique password for Facebook.
Conclusion
Random friend requests on Facebook can be annoying, but are usually harmless. They are often the result of mutual friends, public settings, common names, or mistaken identities. Limit your visibility, ignore suspicious profiles, and periodically review your privacy settings and approved apps to stay secure.