Meta / Facebook Impersonation Scams
Scammers impersonate Meta and Facebook with fake copyright violation warnings and account suspension threats. Meta will never demand payment to restore a disabled account or ask you to click a Messenger link to avoid a policy strike.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Meta and Facebook are among the most impersonated brands in the world. Fake copyright infringement notices, community standards violation warnings, and page verification requests are sent to page owners and individuals alike, creating fear of losing access to accounts they rely on for business or community.
The scam often works through Facebook Messenger itself: a victim receives a message appearing to come from 'Facebook Business Support' warning that their page will be deleted unless they verify via a link — which leads to a credential-harvesting page. Business page owners are particularly targeted because losing access to a monetised page can mean significant financial loss.
How scammers impersonate it
- Sending Messenger messages claiming a page has violated copyright and will be deleted unless verified
- Creating fake 'Meta Business Support' profiles or pages that contact page owners directly
- Sending phishing emails with Facebook branding warning about policy violations requiring login
- Running fake Facebook ads claiming to be Meta and directing users to verify accounts
- Spoofing Meta notification emails to send fake disabled-account warnings
What the real organisation never does
- Contact you via Messenger to resolve a policy violation or account restriction
- Demand payment via gift card to restore a disabled account
- Ask for your Facebook password or two-factor code via Messenger, email, or phone
- Send copyright violation warnings that require clicking a Messenger link to appeal
Common red flags
- Messenger message from a page named 'Facebook Support' or 'Meta Business Centre' asking you to click a link
- Email about a copyright violation with a link to a non-facebook.com or non-meta.com domain
- Urgency: 'Your page will be deleted in 24 hours unless you complete verification'
- Any request for your Facebook password or 2FA code outside of facebook.com
- Facebook ad promising to restore a disabled account in exchange for a fee
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Messenger: 'Hello, this is Facebook Business Support. Your page has received a copyright report and will be disabled. Appeal here: [fake link].'
Email: 'Meta Policy Notice: Your account has been flagged for a Community Standards violation. Verify at [fake link] within 24 hours to avoid permanent removal.'
How to verify
- Genuine Meta policy issues are visible in your Account Quality section at business.facebook.com/account-quality
- Appeal any real violation only through the official support section at facebook.com/help
- Meta does not contact users via Messenger about account restrictions
- Check that any email links lead only to facebook.com or meta.com before clicking
What to do if you're targeted
- Do not click any links — check your real account status in Account Quality
- Change your Facebook password and enable two-factor authentication if credentials were entered
- Report the fake support message using the report feature within Messenger or email
Frequently asked questions
Facebook Messenger told me my page has a copyright violation — is it real?
Almost certainly not. Facebook does not use Messenger to notify page owners of copyright violations. Check your Account Quality at business.facebook.com/account-quality — genuine violations appear there.