Details have emerged of a Facebook scam involving mobile phone numbers.
Northumbria Police reports that the scam involves the hacking of user accounts with the most recent case taking place this month.
Once the accounts are hacked, posts regarding money-making opportunities are posted on the user’s timelines.
Friends of theirs often like the posts and get in touch about the advert.
They then get a message from their ‘Facebook friend’ asking for their phone number.
However, the message is actually from the hacker and this is how details have been stolen from a number of Facebook users.
A message on the police website reads: “A man then makes contact and offers two ‘opportunities.
“The first is that he has a business that can obtain Government funding and he can claim money on their behalf and split the fund. In the second he states that he has a mobile phone business and requires new phones to sell on.
“In both schemes he asks the victim to obtain as many contract mobile phones as possible claiming his company will take over the contracts and asks for bank details so he can transfer funds to them, however, the funds are not transferred. Some victims have also had payday loans taken out in their name using their bank details”.
“Some victims have also had payday loans taken out in their name using their bank details”.
Police have warned Facebook users to be extra-careful and if a Facebook friend asks for your number, get in touch with them in person and not via the social media site.
