Many Facebook users have seen their accounts disabled in recent days, often with no clear explanation. Making matters worse, unscrupulous individuals appear to be using the situation to prey on the vulnerable.
The Department of Anti-Technology Crime has warned affected account holders to be wary of paying private advertisers who claim they can restore accounts.
On Saturday, October 18, the department explained that with many Facebook users posting about their accounts being disabled, there has been a rise in advertisements for “restoration or reactivation services”.
It noted that the quoted fees range from $500 to $1,200.
The following warning was issued.
“Do not pay fees to independent individuals offering to fix the problem, as you may spend money without getting any results,” it said, adding that users should exercise extreme caution when dealing with services or companies that lack official recognition from Meta, Facebook’s parent company.
The department noted that the disabling of so many accounts may stem from a recent Meta system update, so users should wait for a solution from Meta.
“There is still no confirmed explanation for why these accounts are being disabled. Facebook users should remain cautious and contact Meta directly for assistance in resolving the issue,” it added.
