Hoax – Facebook accounts will be blocked within 24 hours for violating standards and require users to access a suspicious link.
Analysis
Messages promising benefits or threatening to block social media accounts are common in the digital environment. Often, they disguise themselves as official notifications to deceive unsuspecting users and carry out scams. One of the most used tactics is to appeal to fear or urgency, such as the immediate blocking of an account.
This is exactly the context of a message being disseminated among Facebook users. The alert, which looks like a Meta notification, claims the user’s account has violated community standards and will be blocked within 24 hours unless the user clicks a “support” link provided in the message. Here’s what is circulating:
*We have received several complaints that your Facebook account and page have seriously violated our Community Standards, Terms, and Policies. *To protect users, the system will automatically block your account permanently within the next 24 hours. *If the above information is incorrect, please contact us to verify the information and continue using this account. Contact support: https://accountsupportsecurity.ubp
Fact-check
The message has caused concern among users who fear losing access to their accounts. Let’s answer the following questions: 1) Is the message that says “We have received several complaints that your Facebook account and page have seriously violated our Community Standards, Terms, and Policies” real? 2) What happens if you access the link in the message? 3) What should you do if your account or page has an issue with policies?
Is the message that says “We have received several complaints…” real?
No. The message was not sent by Facebook or Meta, but by scammers impersonating the platform to deceive users. This is a technique known as phishing, where criminals create fake content to steal sensitive information. Facebook’s own Help Center warns about this type of scam and explains that real notifications never ask users to click on suspicious external links. Here’s what it says:
Facebook will never ask for your password in an email or send a password as an attachment. Sometimes, scammers create fake emails that appear to be from Facebook. These emails often look like: Notifications about friend requests, messages, events, photos, and videos. False claims that you’ve violated our Community Standards and, for businesses, that you’re not compliant with Meta’s Advertising Standards, Commerce Policies, or other terms.
Warnings that something will happen to your account unless you update it or take action. Claims or offers that seem too good to be true (like winning a Facebook lottery). Here’s how to verify if an email is really from Facebook. If an email or message seems suspicious, don’t open it or any attachments.
Report it to [email protected] or through Facebook’s report links. If you’re a business, go to the Business Support Home to check for issues with your business accounts. Learn more about the Business Support Home. Find out what to do if someone sends you a message that makes you uncomfortable or claims to be a Meta representative.
What happens if you access the link in the message?
The website provided in the fake alert is malicious and may be used for various types of digital crimes. By clicking the link, users are taken to a page that mimics Facebook’s official design and prompts them to enter their login credentials.
Once entered, this information goes directly to the scammers, who may steal the account and use it to carry out new scams. Additionally, the site may contain scripts that install malware on the device. The portal Malwarebytes has already detailed scams of this type with very similar examples.
What to do if your account or page has policy issues?
If you receive an official notification from Meta within the platform (and not through external links), you can check the details in your settings and, in some cases, appeal the decision. However, it is important to note that the company’s support is often limited.
Even legitimate pages like Boatos.org have been banned without a chance to defend themselves, even when they complied with guidelines. In legitimate cases, it’s best to use Meta’s official channels and never click links sent outside the platform.
Conclusion
The message claiming that your Facebook account will be blocked for violating community standards is a phishing scam. The content is sent by criminals aiming to steal user login credentials. The link in the message is fake and may seriously compromise your account security.
Scam ⚠️
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