Beware of the Shorten.is Facebook Scam: Don’t Lose Your Page

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Written by: Thomas Orsolya

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Facebook page owners are increasingly falling victim to a new scam involving messages about trademark violations and links from shorten.is. Read on to learn how this Shorten.is Facebook scam works, how to identify fake messages, steps to take if you lost your page, and most importantly, how to protect your account from these cybercriminals.

Meta Protect Facebook Scam 1

Overview of the Shorten.is Scam Targeting Facebook Pages

This scam begins when Facebook page owners receive a concerning message in Facebook Messenger regarding policy violations. The message claims your page violated someone’s trademark rights or intellectual property and is scheduled for deletion within 24 hours.

To supposedly “reinstate” your page, the message provides a link to submit an appeal. The link will begin with shorten.is, such as shorten.is/@facebook_support. However, this shorten.is link actually leads to a fake login page mimicking Facebook’s site.

If you click it and enter your Facebook credentials, you hand over your username and password directly to scammers. From there, they can steal your page and everything connected to your account. This shorten.is Facebook scam has already impacted thousands of unsuspecting page owners.

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The message appears to come from “Facebook Customer Support” or similar official names. Scammers use Facebook branding and logos to pose as legit support staff. The tone sounds urgent, warning your livelihood via the page is in jeopardy if you don’t act quickly. This pressures victims to click without proper scrutiny.

In reality, Facebook would never message you unprompted about trademark issues or disable your page without warning. This is a scam through and through. The shorten.is link leads to credential theft, putting your entire account at risk. Don’t let them fool you and steal the Facebook presence you’ve worked hard to build.

How the Shorten.is Facebook Scam Works

Cybercriminals have devised a clever scheme to rapidly steal Facebook pages by capitalizing on users’ fears. Here are the steps involved in how they carry out this scam:

  1. Scammers identify a target Facebook page they want to steal, often based on follower count, engagement, industry, or other factors.
  2. They send a threatening but legit-sounding message to the page owner via Facebook Messenger. The message claims their page violated someone’s trademark or intellectual property rights.
  3. The message states the page is scheduled for deletion within 24 hours unless the recipient appeals immediately.
  4. A shorten.is link is provided, purportedly to submit a complaint and prevent deletion. Examples include shorten.is/@facebook_support or shorten.is/@copyright_fb.
  5. When the page owner clicks the shorten.is link, it redirects to a fake Facebook login page that mimics the real site. Everything from the URL to the visual design aims to trick users.
  6. If the victim enters their Facebook login credentials, the scammers capture them and gain full access to the account.
  7. Once inside, the criminals change passwords, redirect pages, steal money, post malicious content, and loot everything tied to the account.
  8. The legitimate page owner loses all control over their page and connected accounts. Their entire online presence can be destroyed in an instant.
  9. Meanwhile, the criminals have acquired a high-value Facebook page to operate however they choose, reaping revenues and engaging audiences under false pretenses.

By preying on people’s fear of losing their page, scammers coerce unknowing victims into surrendering the keys to their castle, if you will. This allows cyber thieves to slide right in, take over, and wreak havoc.

Warning Signs of the Shorten.is Facebook Scam

Here are some red flags to help recognize this scam:

  • Message warns your page violated trademark/IP rights and will be deleted soon
  • Message provides a shorten.is link rather than standard Facebook URL
  • Message creates urgency to act quickly or lose your page
  • Message comes from an unknown sender like “Facebook Customer Support”
  • Landing page mimics Facebook’s branding/design to appear legitimate
  • Credentials entered on fake login page captured by scammers
  • Loss of access/control of your Facebook account after clicking link
  • Page name, handle, direction abruptly changed without your doing
  • Strange content posted from your account without consent

Any message involving these characteristics should raise alarms. Facebook will never contact you unsolicited about urgent IP issues via Messenger. Legit account alerts come via official channels and standard Facebook links, not shorten.is. If anything seems suspicious, ignore the message and contact Facebook directly through help pages or ads support.

What to Do If You Lost Your Facebook Page to This Scam

If you unfortunately fell victim to the shorten.is scheme, take these steps immediately to try regaining control:

  • Contact Facebook Support via official channels and explain your page was stolen. Provide details on how/when it occurred.
  • File reports through Facebook’s forms for hacked accounts and compromised pages.
  • Submit appeals conveying all information about how your credentials were compromised through the shorten.is phishing scam.
  • Ask friends to report your page as hacked/scammed to prompt Facebook’s security team to investigate.
  • Attempt logging in to all associated accounts (Instagram, Messenger, etc) to assess extent of compromise.
  • Change passwords for any accounts that use the same login credentials as your Facebook. Prioritize financial accounts. Enable two-factor authentication where possible.
  • Contact your local police department to file a fraud/scam report. Provide any evidence like screenshots of fake messages.
  • Monitor your credit and accounts closely for signs of further identity theft, since scammers may have your details.
  • In the future, be far more cautious about links from unknown parties and urgent threats of account termination.

While recouping your page may be difficult once stolen, reporting swiftly and thoroughly can maximize your chances. Prevent future headaches by recognizing shady messages and using unique strong passwords for all accounts.

How to Avoid Falling Victim to the Shorten.is Facebook Scam

Here are some tips to safeguard your page from these shorten.is scammers:

  • Maintain skepticism of unsolicited urgent messages about your account being at risk. Facebook won’t message randomly like this.
  • Double check sender names on messages match official Facebook channels like “Facebook” or “Meta.”
  • Carefully inspect links before clicking. Real Facebook links won’t start with shorten.is.
  • If message claims urgent action needed, slow down. Contact Facebook directly instead of random links.
  • Never enter your Facebook password on unfamiliar pages, especially those with URLs that seem “off.”
  • Use unique complex passwords and enable two-factor authentication for all your accounts, especially Facebook.
  • Be selective about sharing page admin access. The more users who can manage the page, the more vulnerabilities.
  • Bolster your page’s overall security settings and review permissions granted to apps/services.
  • Keep Facebook app, messaging app, and device software updated to patch holes scammers exploit.

With proper precautions, you can thwart scammers from ever gaining access to wreak havoc on your page. Promote reasonable social sharing habits among your team as well to limit phishing risks.

Shorten.is is being abused by scammers

It’s important to note that Shorten.is as a website is not directly involved in perpetrating this scam. Shorten.is is a legitimate website that allows users to shorten long URLs into shorter links. This can be used for innocuous purposes like creating cleaner looking links to share.

However, scammers are exploiting Shorten.is’s URL shortening capabilities to aid their phishing schemes. The criminals use Shorten.is to mask the fraudulent destination of their links and make them appear more legitimate.

For example, a dubious link starting with Shorten.is may redirect to a convincing fake Facebook login page. But Shorten.is as a company is not creating these phony pages or sending the scam messages. The Shorten.is name simply lends credibility due to its reputation as a known URL shortener.

The core of the scam lies in the misleading Facebook messages and fake login pages. Shorten.is is an uninvolved intermediary that scammers leverage to mask sketchy URLs. While Shorten.is’s tool is being misused by criminals, Shorten.is itself is not actively perpetrating or participating in the phishing campaign.

The concern lies in the scammers and the fake sites they direct victims to, not Shorten.is as a website. Shorten.is provides a redirect service exploited by scammers, but the company behind it is not orchestrating this scam. Be wary of any Shorten.is links shared unexpectedly, but recognize Shorten.is is a victim of criminal misuse, not a perpetrator.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Shorten.is Facebook Scam

What is the Shorten.is Facebook scam?

The Shorten.is Facebook scam involves scammers sending fake messages to Facebook page owners claiming their page violated trademarks and will be deleted. The message contains a shorten.is link that leads to a fake login page designed to steal the victim’s Facebook credentials.

How does the Shorten.is Facebook scam work?

Scammers send an urgent fake message to Facebook page owners stating their page violated someone’s trademark rights and will be deleted unless they appeal. The message includes a shorten.is link supposedly to submit a complaint, but it really goes to a fake login page to steal your password and account access.

What are some red flags of the Shorten.is Facebook scam?

Watch for: – Threats of imminent page deletion in messages – Links beginning with shorten.is instead of facebook.com – Messages from unknown senders like “Facebook Customer Support” – Fake login pages mimicking Facebook’s branding and design

What should I do if I entered my credentials after clicking a Shorten.is link?

If you input your Facebook login information on a Shorten.is link, change your Facebook password immediately and turn on two-factor authentication. Check any other accounts that use the same password. Report the compromise to Facebook. Monitor accounts closely for fraudulent activity.

How can I keep my Facebook page safe from the Shorten.is scam?

Use unique strong passwords. Confirm messages are from official Facebook channels before clicking. Avoid unsolicited links. Enable two-factor authentication. Limit page admin access. Keep software updated. Report shady messages.

What if scammers already stole my page using a Shorten.is link?

If your page was already compromised, contact Facebook support right away. File reports about the hacked account and scam activity. Ask friends to report your page as hacked to get Facebook’s attention. Watch for identity theft, and strengthen security on your other accounts.

Conclusion: Stay Vigilant Against Messages Telling You to Use Shorten.is

Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics and techniques to steal Facebook pages and accounts. One such ploy is the shorten.is Facebook scam detailed here. If you receive any suspicious messages warning your page will get deleted unless you click a provided link, exercise extreme caution.

Contact Facebook yourself through official help channels rather than trusting random links claiming to be support. Never enter your Facebook credentials except on the real facebook.com website. Use strong unique passwords, limit page admin access, enable two-factor authentication, and implement other security best practices.

Stay vigilant for signs of phishing attempts and credential theft. Act swiftly if your account is compromised. But your best defense is proactively fortifying your page against attacks. With smart precautions, you can protect your online presence from ending up hijacked by criminals exploiting shorten.is links and deception.

How to Stay Safe Online

Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:

  1. Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.

    Shield Guide

    It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.

  2. Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.

    updates-guide

    Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.

  3. Be careful when installing programs and apps.

    install guide

    Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."

  4. Install an ad blocker.

    Ad Blocker

    Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.

  5. Be careful what you download.

    Trojan Horse

    A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.

  6. Be alert for people trying to trick you.

    warning sign

    Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.

  7. Back up your data.

    backup sign

    Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.

  8. Choose strong passwords.

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    Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.

  9. Be careful where you click.

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    Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.

  10. Don't use pirated software.

    Shady Guide

    Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.

To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.

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