Fake "your account will be suspended" message tricks you into handing your Facebook login to scammers
A message claiming your Facebook account violated policy or will be permanently disabled sends you to a fake login page that harvests your password and two-factor code. Scammers then take over your account to impersonate you or run Marketplace fraud.
Also known as: fake Facebook suspension warning, Meta account disabled phishing, Facebook policy violation scam, fake Facebook account closure message, Facebook credential theft
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 Never click 'Appeal' or 'Verify' links in unsolicited messages — go directly to facebook.com or open the Facebook app and look for any real notices there
- 2 If you entered your password on a suspicious site, change your Facebook password immediately from a clean device
- 3 Enable Facebook's 'Login Alerts' so you are notified of any new sign-in from an unfamiliar device
- 4 Check Settings → Security → Where You're Logged In and log out any unrecognized sessions
- 5 If your account has been taken over, use Meta's compromised-account recovery page at facebook.com/hacked
- 6 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Red flags
- ⚠ An unsolicited message says your account will be suspended or disabled for policy violations or fraudulent activity
- ⚠ The message includes a button labeled 'Appeal,' 'Verify Account,' or 'Secure Your Account' that links to an external site
- ⚠ Real Facebook/Meta policy notices appear as banners inside your actual account — never as external messages with login links
- ⚠ The fake login page looks identical to Facebook's but has a URL that is not facebook.com
- ⚠ After you enter your password the site asks for your two-factor authentication code — scammers use it in real time to bypass 2FA
- ⚠ You receive the scam through Messenger, email, or another social platform rather than through an in-app notification
Known variants
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A Messenger DM from an account named 'Meta Verrified' (note double r) claims your account has unusual activity and will be disabled in 24 hours, then attaches a PDF containing a phishing link disguised as an official appeal form. Fox News/CyberGuy and WFMD reported this variant in July 2026.
Last seen: 7/27/2026