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Strange Facebook friend requests

(32 Posts)
Daddima Sun 15-Nov-20 18:47:40

Since the Bodach died I have been receiving friend requests on Facebook from single men. Their profiles show only one picture, and most of them have only had posts made within the previous hour. They are usually in America. Now I did not say on my page that I am widowed, and it may be coincidence, and these are possible scammers. Has anyone else received these? I’ve attached a sample .

FarNorth Sat 31-Jul-21 13:56:24

grin
I just checked Messenger, as described, and found only one person, called Hank the Turkey.
He's now blocked.

Babs758 Sat 31-Jul-21 11:50:49

Ah! I need to check my settings again re the “friends of friends “ bit. Thanks :-)

BlueBelle Mon 26-Jul-21 11:00:34

It happens to me almost daily on the word games I play, not on fb
I simply ignore
They are not Americans but sitting in a room in India/ Africa or similar using someone else’s profile picture and hoping to lull you into a friendship then start asking for favours they are patient and in for the long haul
Delete them, don’t answer and check your Fb settings you can set it so no friends of friends can have any access to your profile you may not have it quite private enough I ve been on FB about 12 /14 years and had very few because I have the privacy settings high

Infinity2 Mon 26-Jul-21 10:57:24

blondenana - you’re obviously a man magnet ! They must like your photo !

I have never been on anything apart from this site. I’d be frightened of going on Facebook, and I only have three friends left and hardly any family now.

Babs758 Mon 26-Jul-21 10:54:38

Crikey! I have just done what you suggested in Messenger and a lot of strangers cropped up….. my FB page has a lot of privacy settings so not sure how they are finding me but thanks for your helpful post!

Nonogran Mon 26-Jul-21 09:21:50

I get them via Messenger which is a Facebook spin off.
You have to be in Messenger & then click on your profile photo. Up pops anyone trying to reach you who is not already a FB friend!
Likewise if you tap the Spam tab in Messenger, I’ve usually got a couple of entreaties from dubious men.
Doesn’t worry me …. I’m in control so delete, delete, delete. Gone!

blondenana Mon 26-Jul-21 01:10:36

Yes I have had about ,8,or,,9 this week alone ,I just delete

Forestflame Sun 25-Jul-21 23:57:54

If I get a friend request from someone whom I am already friends with I ways check with them before accepting it. Most times it is genuine but sometimes it turns out they have been hacked.

Callistemon Wed 14-Jul-21 10:06:38

Good idea, geekesse

Incidentally, did anyone else notice that his dog looks like Yoda?

geekesse Wed 14-Jul-21 09:47:37

I don’t usually reply to threads reactivated but spammers, but here’s a tip. Use Google images to look up the photo on the profile of these dodgy requests. In almost all cases, you’ll find the image belongs to someone with a different name and personal details.

Alegrias1 Wed 14-Jul-21 09:41:36

I've had a couple of those recently. Always a good looking chap with a dog. Quite often ex-army in the US. hmm

It doesn't matter how high your privacy settings are, your name and probably picture are available to all. So my FB profile pic isn't a picture of me.

Like somebody upthread said, just delete it, don't even respond.

FarNorth Wed 14-Jul-21 09:36:28

On my laptop, but not on the mobile, FB has an option to see my page as it looks to the public (who are not my FB friends).
That way I can check it is not showing anything I don't want it to.

FarNorth Wed 14-Jul-21 09:32:19

I recently got a friend request from someone who is already my friend on FB.
It was the same photo as before, with a little dove added.
I assumed he'd had to create a new profile for some reason and added him.
After a couple of messages, tho, it was obvious this wasn't my friend - grammar mistakes and mention of an investment opportunity.

I reported it as impersonating my friend, and it soon vanished.

LisaAlsop Wed 14-Jul-21 09:05:37

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ElaineI Sun 06-Dec-20 22:41:22

agree go through your privacy settings and delete them. I never add anyone I don't know. Also be aware of public sites as they might not have the same privacy as you.

TrendyNannie6 Sun 06-Dec-20 22:32:31

Delete

lindiann Mon 16-Nov-20 16:00:59

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18874106.martin-lewis-issues-urgent-warning-facebook-whatsapp-users/

Callistemon Mon 16-Nov-20 15:42:58

Yes, do check your privacy settings and make sure they are set at the highest level, Daddima.

Callistemon Mon 16-Nov-20 15:41:54

I get lots of friend requests; I do semi-recognise them as friends of friends but have never been lucky enough to receive any from such a rugged chap as that, Daddima!

I just hide them or delete them all.

Ashcombe Mon 16-Nov-20 06:03:28

Nor me, Bellasnana, I’m glad to say, but I can understand the distress it might cause. I would advise that you revisit your settings, Daddima, to check that only your friends can see your profile.

Bellasnana Mon 16-Nov-20 05:44:49

This has never happened to me on FB and I have been on it for over ten years. I never accept friend requests from people who are not my friends, even if I recognise them as friends of friends.

I don’t use Skype any more but it was notorious for the photos of ‘US military’ types who are, in actual fact, scammers from Africa.

I play Scrabble on line and I must admit I delete most requests from men as I am sick of them trying to use it as a dating site.

welbeck Mon 16-Nov-20 01:23:32

i'm glad i don't have/do FB.
i don't understand it, and all the above would alarm me.

NanKate Mon 16-Nov-20 00:36:27

You did make me laugh Georgesgran ?

Georgesgran Sun 15-Nov-20 23:58:27

My 70 year old DH keeps getting FB requests from beautiful well-endowed ladies from Russia.
Obviously they haven’t seen him!

Blossoming Sun 15-Nov-20 21:18:39

I have my FB security quite high but still get these from time to time. I block and report as fake profiles.