Facebook’s billions of users are being alerted to a new scam which is targeting the popular social network.
The hoax message attempts to trick people by claiming their account has been cloned – something that has become more rife in recent years.
The note, which is spreading across Facebook, reads: “Hi….I actually got another friend request from you yesterday…which I ignored so you may want to check your account.
“Hold your finger on the message until the forward button appears…then hit forward and all the people you want to forward too….I had to do the people individually. Good Luck!”
Although there appears to nothing malicious about the message it has caused concern for fans of Facebook with many seemingly falling for the scam.
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With the message now circulating at an alarming rate, officials in the US have told users to be aware, saying: “You can stop forwarding that latest warning from your Facebook friends about being hacked.
“You weren’t. It’s bogus. And you’re just making it worse.
“Your account isn’t sending duplicate friend requests. And you didn’t receive a request from the person you’re forwarding it to.
“You’re simply doing it because the message tells you to.
“DON’T, otherwise, you become one of the reasons why the hoax is spreading so fast.”
Facebook has also advised users that, although it doesn’t appear malicious, to simply hit delete if they receive it.
The cloning of accounts became a major problem for Facebook last year.
Using the process, cybercriminals are able to copy your name and profile pictures in order to set-up a brand-new – but from the outside, identical – Facebook account.
To make their cloned account appear as real as possible, scammers will even replicate your personal information and past status updates.
When the fake account is finished, the online criminals impersonate you and send friend requests to your friends and family.
The scam works because your nearest and dearest assume the Facebook account is genuine, and trust they are talking to you.
It’s advised that Facebook users who believe they’re being targeted by what they suspect is a false account should simply search the social network to see if they’re already friends with the person they’re getting additional friend requests from.
Another way to protect yourself from Facebook cloning is to ensure your privacy settings are cranked up to 10 and only your approved friends can see your account.