Recently, social media account hacks have surged, affecting platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. These sites are prime targets for scammers. If your account is hacked, you could lose access, and worse, it might be used to send phishing messages to your friends. This can cause the hack to spread like wildfire, and in some cases, scammers may even use your account to ask your friends for money. So, what should you do if your account has been hacked? Follow these steps to recover your account and regain control!
Social Media Account Hacking: A Growing Crisis
The frequency of social media account theft is on the rise, with issues like Facebook verification scams contributing to an estimated $2.7 billion in losses. These incidents have caused significant distress and financial loss for countless internet users. Whether on Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp, a hacked account can lead to more than just lost access—it can result in personal data leaks, identity theft, and even financial losses for you and your loved ones.
The image below is sourced from the Facebook group ScAm Alert ⭐. In this example, scammers used a compromised account to message the victim’s contacts, starting with the innocent question, "Can you help me out very Quick?" to lower their guard. They then proceeded to ask for help with a verification code, claiming, "I’m trying to sign in with my Facebook And Facebook don’t allow me they showed me 2 friends I can contact to help me receive code. Pls if you get the code send it to me so I can login."
Your account getting hacked and sending out scam messages can put your family and friends at risk if you don't act quickly to recover it. So, what should you do if this happens? While there are plenty of tutorials online, Facebook has updated its site multiple times, making some of those steps obsolete. But don’t worry! Whoscall has gathered the latest methods for reporting and recovering hacked accounts. If your account is compromised, just follow our step-by-step guide to regain control.
Here's What to Do if Your Account Gets Hacked: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide
Step 1: Reclaim Your Hacked Account by Changing Your Password
As soon as you suspect your account has been hacked, immediately try to log back in and change your password. If successful, create a strong, unique password that combines uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid simple, easily guessed passwords like your birthday or common words.
When prompted by the platform, choose to log out of other devices after updating your password. This will help ensure the hacker is removed from your account. Also, check the "Where you're logged in" associated with your account, and log out any unfamiliar devices.
If you use the same password across multiple accounts, update the password for all accounts to prevent hackers from gaining access to other platforms.
Step 2: Reach Out to the Platform for Assistance
If the hacker has already changed your password, phone number, or email linked to the account, you'll need to contact the platform directly. Follow their procedures to verify your identity and reclaim control of your account.If Your Facebook Account is Hacked:
- Visit Facebook's report compromised page and follow the prompts that best match your situation.
- Follow the instructions to secure your account and update your password. Also, review any posts or comments made by the hacker and take appropriate action.
- Upload Identification Documents: If Meta detects that your account has been hacked, they will request your email and ID for verification. Typically, you'll need to upload an ID. Once verified, your account may be temporarily locked for manual review. During this lockout period, neither you nor the hacker can access the account, allowing Meta to protect it. Be prepared for a possible delay, as identity verification can take over a day.
- Reset Your Password According to Meta’s Instructions: After Meta verifies your identity, you’ll receive an email titled “Final step to get back on Facebook.” Click the link in the email to update your password. Ensure that the email is genuinely from Meta before proceeding.
If scammers have changed your Instagram password and email, preventing you from logging in, you can recover your account by verifying your identity through a selfie or by getting help from friends.
- On the Instagram login page, click "Forgot password."
- Enter the "username" or "email" of the hacked account to find it.
- Instagram will send a verification code to devices where you're logged into Instagram. If you can't receive the code, click "Can’t confirm account?" and choose "Try another way" if your email has also been changed by hackers.
- Instagram will ask if you have a photo of yourself in your account. If you do, Instagram can use video selfies to verify your identity.
- If you don't have a photo, Instagram will let you choose two friends to help with verification. Contact friends who can respond quickly to assist you in recovering your account as soon as possible.
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Step 3: Report to the Police
If your account has been hacked and it’s considered a criminal matter. Report the incident to your local police agency and provide all relevant evidence. This can help protect you by preventing the hacker from using your identity for illegal activities, which could lead to financial loss or more serious consequences.
Step 4: Monitor Subsequent Activities
Recovering a hacked account can be a challenging and time-consuming process. To prevent future hacks, closely monitor your account for any unusual activity. If you notice any suspicious logins or actions, immediately change your password and contact the platform's support team. Many platforms, such as Google, Facebook, and Instagram, offer features like login notifications to alert you of any account access or allow you to regularly check activity logs for unfamiliar devices or login attempts.
How to Prevent Account Hacking
While swift action is essential for recovering a hacked account, the best strategy is to prevent unauthorized access in the first place. Here are key steps to safeguard your accounts:
Create Complex Passwords: Use strong, unique passwords that are difficult to guess. Avoid using easily identifiable information like birthdays or phone numbers.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, for logins from new devices.
Keep Software Updated: Regularly update your devices, apps, and operating systems to fix security vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit.
Set Up Security Questions and Backup Emails: Use security questions and backup email addresses to help verify your identity if you need to recover your account.
Use Whoscall’s ID Security: Check if your account information has been leaked with Whoscall’s ID Security feature. If you find that your passwords have been compromised, change them immediately to prevent unauthorized access.
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