Someone Hacked My Facebook. What Should I Do?
If you think someone got into your Facebook account, focus first on securing the account and the email address connected to it.
What’s happening?
A hacked Facebook account may show signs such as messages you did not send, posts you did not make, unfamiliar logins, a changed password, or changes to your email address or phone number.
The most important thing is to avoid giving the person who may have taken over the account more information. If you can still sign in, secure the account before doing anything else.
How these scams work
- A password was exposed through phishing or another scam
- The same password was reused on another website that was compromised
- A saved Facebook session remained signed in on another device
- The email account used for Facebook recovery was also compromised
What you should do
- Open Facebook yourself. Use the Facebook app you already have or type the official Facebook website address yourself. Do not use a recovery link sent by the person you suspect hacked the account.
- Change your Facebook password. If you can still sign in, create a new, unique password that you do not use anywhere else.
- Secure the email account connected to Facebook. Your email may be able to reset your Facebook password. If you think the email account was exposed too, secure it through the provider’s official recovery process.
- Review recent account activity and signed-in devices. Look for devices, locations, or sessions you do not recognize and remove unfamiliar access using Facebook’s normal security controls.
- Turn on two-step sign-in. After you regain control, add another sign-in check to make the account harder to access with only a password.
- Warn friends if messages were sent from the hacked account. If the account sent suspicious messages or links, tell contacts not to click them or send money.
Stop here
Never give a password, security code, gift card, or money to someone who claims they can recover your Facebook account. A person contacting you unexpectedly is not proof that they work for Facebook.
If you cannot regain control, if the email address or recovery information was changed, or if you suspect other accounts were affected, use Facebook’s official recovery process and consider getting help securing your other accounts.
Still having trouble?
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
LoTyde Tech Assistance provides friendly, patient technology help for residents throughout Indiana County and surrounding communities.
If you’ve tried the safe steps and still need help, we’re here to help.
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