Facebook Privacy Notice Hoax

How The Facebook Privacy Notice Hoax Works

A “Facebook Privacy Notice” is making its rounds on Facebook as you are reading this. Thousands of users are posting it to their profiles not knowing it is a fake. A few versions of the “Notice” are similar to another hoax scammers came up with a couple of years ago. Users were led to believe that posting a similar notice on a website would protect that site's administrators from prosecution of media piracy. How does the scam work?

Watch the video below now to see in action the Facebook Privacy Notice Hoax exposed:

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But back to this one. You might see on your friends' walls a text like this:

“Deadline tomorrow!!! Everything you've ever posted becomes public from tomorrow. Even messages that have been deleted or photos are not allowed. It costs nothing for a simple copy and paste; better safe than sorry. Channel 13 News talked about the change in Facebook's privacy policy. I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages, or posts, both past and future.”

Here is a screenshot below:

 

What Doesn't Make Sense

Posting a “privacy notice” or some other disclaimer on your profile won't protect you from the consequences of illegal activity. Not to mention that the fact that Facebook is now a publicly traded company doesn't affect the terms of its Privacy Policy, which all users must agree to follow when they sign up.

If you remember (if you read the fine print), you accepted how Facebook uses and shares your personal information when you agreed to the terms. Regardless of whatever legal standing a government agency has or doesn't have in searching your Facebook profile for information, posting a supposed “privacy notice” on your profile doesn't change a thing.

Also, if you read the whole “Notice” carefully, you will see a mention of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) 1-103 1-308. If you need to know what that is, the UCC deals with commercial law in the United States and has absolutely nothing to do with privacy.

Another Version of the Hoax

Below there is another variation on the Facebook Privacy Hoax (ignore the grammar mistakes):

“Hello, It's official. Signed at 5:43 AM. It was even on TV. Mine really turned blue. Don't forget that tomorrow starts the new Facebook rule (aka… new name, META) where they can use your photos. Don't forget the deadline is today!!!”

“I do not authorize META, Facebook, or any entity associated with Facebook to use my photos, information, messages, or posts, past or future. With this statement, I notify Facebook that it is strictly prohibited to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and its contents. Violation of privacy may be punishable by law.”

“Here's how to do it:”

“Hold your finger anywhere in this message, and “copy” will appear. Click “copy.” Then, go to your page, create a new post, and place your finger anywhere in the empty field. “Paste” will appear, so click Paste.”

“This will bypass the system….”

“He who does nothing consents.”

How to Avoid the Facebook Privacy Hoax

This is another reminder that anything you post on social media becomes public information. That's why it is called “social” and “media”. If you really want something to be confidential, then there are better ideas than posting it online. Stay away from scams.

How To Report a Facebook Scammer

Warn your family and friends know about these scams. Feel free to share the article if it was helpful. However, you can report scammers and any suspicious activity officially to the Federal Trade Commission (most important), the Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI Internet Complaint Center by using the pages below:

Report To The FTC
Submit Claim To The Office of the Inspector General
Report To The FBI Internet Complaints Center

How To Protect Yourself More

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Feel free to explore additional articles on related fraud. You can find them listed below this paragraph, so that you know more about online security. Last but not least, if you had any bad experiences, make sure to use the comments section below to expose other scammers.

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