Facebook Messenger users should be aware of a simple flaw that can expose them and their friends and family to hackers.
The issue stems from the fact that to set up a Messenger account you don’t need a full Facebook profile.
Cyber criminals are using this to generate fake accounts, that impersonate real people, and because they don’t have any details stored with Facebook it makes it almost impossible to report them.
Facebook says they are aware of the glitch and are working on a fix.
Users can currently report individual messages if they contain abusive content or spam links but there’s currently no option for impersonation.
Confirming the issue, one Daily Telegraph reader explained how they had been caught by the scam with their profile picture stolen and a fake account set up in their name.
This was then used to message their friends in bid to con them out of money.
Speaking to the Telegraph a Facebook spokesperson said: “It is against our rules to use a fake name or a false identity on Facebook and Messenger.
“We have been committed to this policy since day one.”
However, Martyn James from consumer website Revolver, said more needed to be done by the social network.
“They need to admit there are fake profiles on their platforms,” he told the Telegraph.
“Just doing that would make would make people more cautious.”
The news of this scam comes as Facebook wants to bring paid subscriptions to its hugely-successful social network, according to report from technology blog Recode.
The update would enable publishers who share articles via Facebook to protect their content behind a paywall.
The feature is already available on Android phones and tablets, but will now be available on iOS following an agreement with Apple.
“It’s resolved,” Facebook executive Campbell Brown told Recode.
Unfortunately, Brown didn’t elaborate on how the deal was cut with Apple, but did confirm the feature would be rolling-out March 1st 2018.