By Yushau A. Shuaib
At the last count, I have more than 500 pending messages and requests for friendship on Facebook alone. Though one may be reluctant to endorse all the requests because majority of the pending and consistent requests share the same attributes and features which only suggest something else: Fake.
A new application has been invented known as FakeOff to detect bogus Facebook accounts which, according to its promoters came as instances of rise in cyber impersonation on social networking sites.The application would help to identify fake accounts and protect users from scams devised by fake Facebook users, who are mistaken for genuine friends.
It should be noted that while one may be a friend without being a follower, the opportunity for interaction and exchanges are similar though with different privileges. Friends on facebook can relate mutually and share posts and updates while followers only have the opportunity of viewing status updates of those they like without necessarily seeking friendship. Celebrities, mostly politicians, actors, sportsmen and women have large followers but fewer friends. In a nutshell, the major difference is the fact that friendship is a two-communication process while followership is a one-way communication.
A user doesn’t need a permission to be a follower but will require sending an invitation to get approval to be a friend because of sensitivity of two-way friending model which can easily create real-life relationships.
The reason behind some of the fake requests for friendship are better imagine considering the havoc some have wrecked on account holders. Aggressive and daring fraudsters are unperturbed in their incessant requests that are strangely very similar. Most of them goes thus: “Hi Dear, Greetings, I saw your profile and become interested in you, I would love to know more about you for a lasting friendship. Please contact me directly with my below email address so that I will send you my picture and also tell you more about me.”
Many have fallen victims of the facebook fraudsters who hack into accounts or engage in deceitful amorous relationship for exploitation and other fraudulent activities.
There are published tips to guide users from the traps of fake social media friends. One of the tips is to avoid a request where the supposed friend has only one photo in the whole profile. Another areas of interest is to look closely on the status updates. If there are no updates on wall posts and comments, it could be a fake account holder.
While I am very choosy when confirming a friend on Facebook, I am very cautious of users whose friends are mostly of the opposite gender. It is just too strange for comfort.
Users of facebook are expected to provide basic backgrounds regarding their education, workplace and interest. When these are non-existent, then something is amiss. There are some birthdays that are randomly choosing by pretenders. They are unique and easy to type dates e.g. January 1, December 31 and February 14 that have become common fake accounts.
We should be wary of a friend’s request whose picture is in compromising and appealing position, just as any enticing offer and outrageous demands must be discarded.
It requires rethinking to accept friends who hardly respond to simple questions on their walls such as “May I Know You” or “How are you?” It may only signify the account is dormant or fake.
There are various way of detecting fake account on facebook. We should be mindful of activities online fraudsters on the prowl and be conscious of the kind of information who post on our wall and message we exchange on social media.
Online predators are doing their acts for various reasons: to steal identity, destroy reputation of victims of for mere mischief and fun.
