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Ridgefield Police Warn Of Facebook Scam

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — The Ridgefield Police Department is warning of a new Facebook scam that someone unsuccessfully tried to pull on a town resident.  

Photo Credit: File

A town resident was sent a friend request on Facebook with the name and profile picture of someone who is known personally to her, police said. She accepted the friend request and began corresponding through Facebook messaging with the other person. During this time, she believed she was messaging with her friend.

But it was an unknown individual who knew basic information about the receiver’s job and told of a possible grant, police said. The person provided a link for the grant application, police said.

Upon going to that link, however, the town woman was asked to put a $1,500 payment down to proceed with the application, police said.

The woman then realized this was a scam, police said.

Even though the scammer used fictitious Facebook pages and a false grant application in this incident, anything can be used to try lure the receiver into sending money. There was no loss in this incident.

Profile pictures, as well as basic personal information, can be easily obtained online, police said. Scammers can set up an account using Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, dating sites or others and impersonate others very easily, police said.

Here are some Facebook tips from the Ridgefield Police Department for avoiding scams:

  • Make sure you know with whom you are messaging.
  • Verify your security settings on Facebook and check them regularly to make sure they have not been changed.
  • Never provide personal information or credit card information.
  • Never send money to anyone without verifying who they are.
  • Notify Facebook as soon as possible regarding the suspicious account.
  • Contact police if you feel you have been the victim of a scam.

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