How to Spot the Difference Between a Genuine Copy-Paste Facebook Plea and a Scam Attempt and Why You'd Want to Do That

If you've seen a friend post a status on Facebook asking you to copy and paste it instead of sharing, you might have done so without question, or you might have wondered why. The posts will often say something like: "Most people won't bother to read this, but if you care about your friends, copy and paste this to your status." They might include an emotional appeal about a recent tragedy or urge you to 'find out your superhero alter ego.'

What is and how does Copy-Paste Plea It Work

A copy-paste plea on Facebook is a post where someone asks you to copy and paste their message to your own feed instead of simply sharing it. The intention might seem innocent, such as spreading awareness about a cause or participating in a social media trend. However, these requests can sometimes be a guise for more dubious purposes.

When you copy and paste a message, you create a new, independent post that isn't linked to the original poster. This method can help bypass privacy settings restricting sharing, allowing the message to reach a wider audience. While this might seem like a harmless way to spread a message, it opens the door to potential risks and scams.

Also, when you copy and paste a message instead of sharing it, you protect the identity of the original poster. If you share a post and the original post gets deleted, it will disappear from your own timeline. But if you copy and paste the post and the original post gets deleted, it will not affect yours. This means the original poster can delete their post—their message still spreads, but it cannot be traced back to them.

Related: Beware of these common Facebook scams before they get you

The Risks of Facebook Copy-Paste Games

1. They bring you in scammers' focus

Some of these 'copy and paste' posts contain a phrase or misspelled word that is easily searchable for the original poster (and potential scammer). If people are sharing their message, they can search this phrase or word to find out who is posting their message. They can then target these people for further scams.

2. They expose your data

Posts that ask for personal information, such as birth dates, favorite colors, or mother's maiden name, can be phishing attempts. The original poster can then access this information and can use it for identity theft or guessing your passwords.

Related: From fun to data loss: the dark side of Facebook quizzes

3. You may be unintentionally spreading hoaxes and misinformation

Fake news and hoaxes can spread more effectively when they are copied and pasted, as each new post is an independent piece of content. This makes it harder to track and remove the false information.

4. They can lead to account cloning

Account cloning involves creating a duplicate account of someone you are already friends with on Facebook. Scammers may use the information from these 'copy and paste' Facebook statuses to deceive unsuspecting victims.

How to Determine If It's a Scam Attempt

1. Check the Source: If a friend sent it to you, ask them directly why they want you to copy-paste the post instead of sharing it. They might not be aware of the potential risks involved. Look for official pages or trusted individuals; scammers often use anonymous or newly created accounts.

2. Analyze the Content: Genuine messages focus on raising awareness or supporting a cause without asking for personal information. Be cautious of posts that ask for details like your birth date, address, or other personal data.

3. Look for Red Flags: Scams often contain spelling mistakes, sensational language, or urgent calls to action that pressure you to respond immediately. Be skeptical of anything that sounds too dramatic or requires immediate action.

4. Verify it through a quick search with Scamio. If a copy-paste request looks suspicious, check it with Scamio, our AI-powered scam detection tool. Send any texts, messages, links, QR codes, or images to it, and it will analyze them to determine if they are part of a scam. Scamio is free and available on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and your web browser. You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia, and the UK.

5. Observe the Privacy Settings: Genuine posts usually don't mind being shared directly. If the request insists on copying and pasting instead of using the share button, consider it a potential red flag.

Related: Don't Get Scammed! Facebook Marketplace scams you should avoid

How to Stay Safe

1. Use the Share Button Sharing posts instead of copying and pasting them helps maintain the original context and source, making it easier to trace and verify.

2. Educate Yourself: Stay informed about common social media scams and how to recognize them. Awareness is your best defense against fraud.

3. Protect Your Personal Information. Avoid sharing sensitive information on social media. Be mindful of what you disclose, even in seemingly innocent posts. If you're curious to see what the internet already knows about you or what information Facebook has collected about you, use Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection. This tool shows you not only your digital footprint and how to reduce it but also all the breaches that exposed your identity so far and what to do about them and alerts you in case new exposures of your personal information.

Q&A

Why is copying and pasting riskier than sharing a post?

Copying and pasting creates a new post that isn't linked to the original, making it harder to trace and easier for scammers to use unique identifiers to track and target users.

How can I verify if a copy-paste plea is genuine?

Look for credible sources and official links within the post. If in doubt, ask the friend who posted it directly or do a quick search with Scamio to check its legitimacy.

What should I do if I realize I've shared a scam post?

Delete the post immediately and inform any friends who might have seen or reposted it. Report the original post to Facebook to help prevent others from falling victim.