In a shocking display of negligence and disregard for the safety and credibility of its users, Facebook has once again demonstrated its failure to effectively address the proliferation of fake profiles on its platform.
I present to you a glaring example that highlights Facebook’s inability to take responsible action against fraudulent and fake accounts, exposing millions of users to scams, deceit and sub-par freelance operations.
In a world where cyber threats and misinformation run rampant, the least we expect from a social media giant like Meta’s Facebook is vigilance and a commitment to maintaining the integrity of its platform. Unfortunately, it seems that Facebook’s promises are as hollow as the profiles that continue to plague its ecosystem.
Meet “Lucy Audrey,” a fake profile originating from Pakistan that shamelessly peddles digital marketing and search engine optimisation services.
As someone who purportedly offers expertise in an industry that requires skill and experience, Lucy Audrey’s (Alias) apparent ignorance becomes evident with every keystroke.
Facebook’s Ludicrous Response to Reporting “Lucy Audrey”
So this character, “Lucy Audrey,” hailing from Faisalabad, Pakistan. No big deal, right? But here’s where it gets bizarre – the profile picture features a Shutterstock image of woman model from the United States proudly posing with an American flag.
Alright, strange combination, but the real kicker is that this “Lucy Audrey” announces herself as a male (his) in the profile. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s like a bad comedy skit.
Naturally, I did what any sensible person would do – I reported this outlandish fake profile to Facebook. And what do I get? A response in just 2 to 3 minutes, saying, “We won’t be taking any action.”
It’s crystal clear that this was an automated response, generated by some algorithm that barely blinked an eye before dismissing my concerns.
Not the entire profile? The whole profile is a fake!
It’s beyond pathetic, really. In an age where AI and advanced technology rule the roost, Facebook couldn’t even spot an account that reeks of fake identity. Lucy Audrey? Faisalabad, Pakistan? With a profile that says she’s male? It’s so ridiculous, it’s comical.
This response is not only a slap in the face but also a punch in the gut to anyone who values the safety and security of their online interactions. Facebook’s refusal to remove an egregiously fake profile, one that is peddling services it knows nothing about, is an outrageous betrayal of its users’ trust.
In my humble opinion, Facebook’s algorithms are fine-tuned for one thing: keeping its user retention rates up, even if it means tolerating such absurdly fake profiles.
They care more about user retention than eradicating the obvious fakes operated by people who couldn’t tell a blog post from a hole in the ground.
Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to test the waters. I paid one of these bogus “experts” to place a blog post on a website for one of my digital marketing clients. Lo and behold, the blog post vanished like a magician’s trick within a month.
The faker took my money, placed the content with a site owner, and then conveniently didn’t pay the site owner while keeping the entire amount instead of their “commission” and leaving me with a case of fraud and an empty wallet.
I also contacted the website owner, and I was advised that this person ” the blog post reseller scammer who serviced me while using a fake identity didn’t pay him, so he had no choice to remove the content from his blog.
This is a prime example of Facebook’s utter failure to protect its community. It’s shocking how they let these charlatans roam free while posing as “professionals” and “experts.”
I played along to see just how far the deception would go, and it’s clear that Facebook’s protective measures are about as sturdy as a paper umbrella in a monsoon.
Yes’, I only paid $10 in my test with one of these fake name SEO service parasites, just as well I know that at least PayPal have a great protections system!
Facebook’s insistence on adhering to “Community Standards” in such a manner is a farcical exercise. One must question the utility of these standards if they fail to protect users from scam artists like Lucy Audrey. (Possibility Pakistani male) Well, most Likely. I’d put down a whole week’s paycheck that I’m right.
This incident is not an isolated one, but a stark illustration of Facebook’s ongoing disregard for its users’ safety and integrity. It’s high time that Facebook stops paying lip service to its users’ concerns and takes concrete action to address the rampant issue of fake profiles on its platform.
Facebook’s Hilariously Absurd “Meta Verified”
I’ve recently stumbled upon something so ludicrous that it made me laugh until tears streamed down my face. Every time I log into my Facebook account now, I’m greeted by a new, infuriating message that hijacks my desktop space. In the top left-hand corner of my profile, there’s a message that reads:
“Matthew, get a verified badge for less. Sign up for Meta Verified on the web and get all the same benefits at a discount, including a verified badge.”
You heard it right, Facebook wants me, an obvious, legitimate user who’s been on the platform since the beginning of time, to “pay them” $19.99 per month to verify that I’m a real person! I couldn’t help but laugh at the audacity of this proposition.
It’s downright hilarious how I receive this message offering me to pay close to $20 per month for a meaningless digital badge while Facebook, the very platform offering this “thing”, has refused to suspend over 50 obvious fake Facebook profiles I have personally reported.
I mean, can you even fathom the irony? I’m here, a legitimate user since Facebooks beginning of time, being asked to cough up cash to prove I exist, while the platform itself seems to be infested with imposters that have been reported time and time again without suspension.
While users are now flocking to other platforms like TikTok, it’s evident that this social media giant is now on a user retention drive, desperately clinging to any semblance of user statistics and profit over online safety.
To add insult to injury, according to Facebook, you can create 4 additional Facebook profiles under your account. These profiles can represent different things about you like your interests or communities you belong to. and each profile can have its own friends list and Feed.
In my own opinion, that’s the extent of desperation to keep their statistics up. It’s like they’re throwing the door wide open for the imposters and scammers to waltz right in.
It’s a sad state of affairs when a platform that was regarded as one of the first social media giants resorts to such absurdity. The mockery is so profound that it would be hilarious if it weren’t so disheartening.
During the last quarter of 2022, Facebook apparently addressed 1.3 billion fraudulent accounts, marking a decrease from the 1.5 billion tackled in the preceding quarter. Okay so these are fraudulent accounts? What about the protentional fake accounts setting themselves up and getting ready to commit fraud?
Meta defines fake accounts as those crafted with malicious intentions or established to impersonate businesses, organisations, or non-human entities. However, from my own experience this is something i’m not seeing with my own eyes as a user of the platform.
I can still point out a fake account at random within 5.45 seconds. (tested and proven) yet I’m not a multimillion-dollar developed algorithm created by some of the brightest technologically minded and skilled tech talents in the world.
The evidence is clear: Facebook is refusing to remove utterly fake name profiles. The time for empty promises and inaction has passed. It’s time for accountability and responsibility.
So there you have it, folks. Facebook’s inability and refusal to address the glaringly fake and ridiculous profiles on its platform is not only laughable but also a disheartening betrayal of trust.
