If you receive a fake Facebook friend request followed by a plea for money, you are dealing with a profile cloning scam or a hacked account scam. Scammers use these tactics to exploit your trust and steal your funds. 

Immediate Action Steps

• Do not send money: Never send funds via crypto, gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps.
• Do not accept: Decline the unsolicited or duplicate friend request immediately.
• Verify the request: Call or text your friend outside of Facebook to confirm.
• Report the profile: Click the three dots (...) on the fake profile and select Report Profile.
• Block the user: Block the fraudulent account to prevent further messaging or targeting.
• Warn mutual friends: Post a status or message others so they do not fall for it. 

How the Scams Work

• Profile Cloning: A scammer creates an entirely new account using a real person's publicly available name and photos. They send requests to that person's friends list to build a fake network. 
• Account Hacking / Takeover: A scammer compromises a legitimate account and messages existing friends directly. The real owner is often locked out while the scammer poses as them. 

Common Lures for Money

• The Emergency Lure: Claims of an urgent medical crisis, passport loss, or accident abroad.
• The Government Grant: Claims that you qualify for a free government grant if you pay an advance delivery fee.
• The Crypto Opportunity: A "friend" offering a high-return, exclusive investment platform. 

Red Flags to Watch For

• Duplicate Accounts: Getting a request from someone you are already friends with.
• High Urgency: Pressuring you to act immediately without giving you time to think.
• Odd Payment Requests: Demanding payment through untraceable methods like Western Union, Cash App, or gift cards.
• Grammar Changes: Unusual spacing, excessive exclamation points, or a sudden change in how your friend normally speaks.

How to Protect Your Own Profile

• Hide Friends List: Change your Facebook privacy settings so only you can see your friends list. This stops cloners from targeting your network.
• Lock Down Photos: Set past and future profile pictures or posts to "Friends Only".
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Protect your own login credentials from being hacked. 

Where to File a Formal Report

If you or someone you know lost money to this scam, document the conversation and report it to consumer protection bureaus.

• United States: Report the fraud to the FTC Report Fraud Portal.
• Internet Crimes: File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).