Fact Check

Andrea Wilson, Facebook Friend Request Hacker Warning

Accepting a Facebook friend request from a stranger will not provide hackers with access to your computer and online accounts.

Published March 17, 2009

Updated Jan. 10, 2020
The Facebook login screen is seen in this photo illustration on March 13, 2019 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images) (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Facebook login screen is seen in this photo illustration on March 13, 2019 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Claim:
Accepting a friend request from a stranger will provide hackers with access to your computer and online accounts.

A long-running hoax warns readers not to allow contact from a particular person or group because dire consequences will result.

The basic form of these hoax warnings is typically drawn from the following template:

  • Do not {read / open / respond to / join}
  • an {email / text message / friend request / }
  • sent by {real name / email address / screen name}!
  • If you do, {you / your computer / your Facebook account / everyone on your contact list / your children}
  • will be in danger of falling victim to a {serial killer / computer virus / hacker / predator}.

One recent example reads:

Be careful: I got a message from you or it shown on your wall here.. Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept friendship request from Andrea Wilson. She is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received. Hold your finger down on the message. At the bottom in the middle it will say forward. Hit that then click on the names of those in your list and it will send to them THIS Is REAL

Variants of these messages are circulated endlessly, with different names swapped in and out (see more examples below). Another warns of account “cloning.”

Of course, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that an email message or a link posted on Facebook might carry a virus payload which could infect your computer and allow it be controlled by a botnet, but virus warnings that correspond to the patterns detailed below can be safely dismissed as japes, while other, greater security issues should remain on our radar.

Additional examples:

Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept anything from Fabrizio Brambilla. He has a foto with a dog. He is a hacker and has the system connected to your messanger account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received.


Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept Jayden K. Smith friendship request. He is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it.


Please tell all the contacts in your Messenger list not to accept Anwar Jitou's [Anwar Jitu's] contact, it's a hacker that has the computer connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it.


Si prega di dire a tutti i contatti della tua lista Messenger, di non accettare il contatto di Anwar Jitou [Anwar Jitu], è un hacker che ha il computer collegato nel tuo account Facebook. Se uno dei tuoi contatti lo accetta, sarai anche hackerato, così fai in modo, che tutti i tuoi amici lo sappiano.


If you get a request from Sunny Boyie do not except, he is a kidnapper. Send this to all your friends. Hello we are the company Facebook. You must send this to 20 people to stay active. If you don't you will be disconnected from Facebook. If you think this is fake check the customer service.


ALERT!!!!! ALERT!!!!! Don't accept a friend request from Maggie from Sweden, she is a HACKER.Tell everyone on your list cause if someone on your list adds her then she will be on yours too. She will figure out your computer ID and address, so send this to everyone on your list even if you don't care for them cause if she hacks them, she hacks YOU too. She is also noted for repeated sexual harrasment and indecent private chatting.


PB: BEWARE!!! DO NOT ACCEPT A FRIEND REQUEST FROM TANNER DWYER, CHRISTOPHER BUTTERFIELD, STEFANIA COLAC AND ALEJANDO SPILJNER. THESE ARE HACKERS SO PUT IT ON YOUR WALL. IF SOMEONE ADD'S THEM THEY TAKE YOUR CONTACTS, EMPTY YOUR COMPUTER AND ADDRESSES, SO COPY AND PASTE THIS ON YOUR WALL.


WARNING!!!!! DO NOT ACCEPT FRIEND REQUESTS FROM ~~~ BOBBY ROBERTS ~~~ Profile picture is four colored picture ~~ A hacker and fake name!!!! the name will DESTROY EVERYTHING!!! Please... COPY THIS TEXT ON YOUR STATUS SO THAT YOUR
FRIENDS ARE WARNED ****************** PASS ON ALONG..


ATTENTION ATTENTION !!! ATTENTION !!! ATTENTION ALL FACEBOOK USERS**... DO NOT ADD *JASON ALLEN*, ALSO IF SOMEBODY CALLED *AMY ALLEN* ADDS YOU, DON'T ACCEPT... IT IS A VIRUS. TELL EVERYBODY, BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY ON YOUR LIST ADDS THEM, YOU GET THE VIRUS TOO. **COPY AND PASTE AND PLEASE RE POST* THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY FACEBOOK AND SNOPES


ATTENTION **ALL FACEBOOK USERS ** .. DO NOT ADD "LINDA SMITH", also IF SOMEBODY CALLED "JASON LEE", ADDS YOU, DON'T ACCEPT IT.. IT IS A VIRUS. TELL EVERYBODY, BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY ON YOUR LIST ADDS THEM , YOU GET THE VIRUS TOO . COPY AND PASTE AND PLEASE RE-POST - THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY FB


DO NOT ACCEPT ANY FRIENDSHIP INQUIRIES FROM: ROLAND DREYER, MATTHIAS DAMBERGER, MARIO SOMMER, FABIAN BERNEDER OR FRANK BECKER !!!!! THESE ARE HACKERS!!!!! THEY CAN DESTROY THE HARD DISK!!!!!!...PLEASE ...COPY TEXT ON YOUR BULLETIN BOARD!!!...SO THAT YOUR FRIENDS ARE PROTECTED


Don't add anyone named rehana n 27 years from leicister .she is a hacker. Tell everyone on your buddy list because if someone on your buddy list adds her, she'll be on your list too. She'll figure out your computer ID and address. So copy and paste this message to everyone on your buddy list because if she hacks them your next. I sent to everyone on my list so please send to everyone on your list


FROM NEWS FEED: DO NOT ADD HER!!! IF SOMEBODY CALLED "SMARTGRRL15", ADDS YOU, DON'T ACCEPT IT...IT IS A VIRUS. TELL EVERYBODY, BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY ON UR LIST ADDS THEM, U GET THE VIRUS TOO. COPY AND PASTE AND PLEASE REPOST


ATTENTION:::::::DO NOT ACCEPT FRIEND REQUEST FROM CHRISTOPHER DAVIES AND JESSICA DAVIES, THEY ARE HACKERS. TELL EVERY 1 ON YOUR LIST, BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY ON YOUR LIST ADDS THEM, THEY WILL BE ON YOUR LIST TOO. HE'LL FIGURE OUT YOUR COMPUTER'S ID AND ADDRESS, SO COPY & PASTE THIS MESSAGE...... EVEN IF YOU DON'T CARE.. PLEASE


***ATTENTION!!!*** Do not accept a friend request from a CHRISTOPHER BUTTERFIELD he is a hacker. Tell everyone on your list because if somebody on your list adds him u get him on your list too and he'll figure out your computer's ID and address, so copy and paste this message to everyone even if u don't care for them cause if he hacks their email he hacks your mail too! FORWARD ONTO all!!!


IF A PERSON CALLED SIMON ASHTON (SIMON25@HOTMAIL.CO.UK) CONTACTS YOU THROUGH EMAIL DON'T OPEN THE MESSAGE. DELETE IT BECAUSE HE IS A HACKER!!

TELL EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY ON YOUR LIST ADDS HIM THEN YOU WILL GET HIM ON YOUR LIST. HE WILL FIGURE OUT YOUR ID COMPUTER ADDRESS, SO COPY AND PASTE THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE EVEN IF YOU DONT CARE FOR THEM AND FAST BECAUSE IF HE HACKS THEIR EMAIL HE HACKS YOUR MAIL TOO!!!!!...


Can you tell me anything about this that has been going around:
⛔ WARNING ⛔
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
HACKERS VIRUS ATTACKERS ON THE MARCH THIS WEEKEND ON SOCIAL MEDIA BE EXTRA WISE!!!
DO NOT CLICK VIDEOS IN YOUR INBOX UNLESS U COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR FRIEND/S TO SEE IF THEY SENT IT ASK THEM TO EXPLAIN BE CAUTIOUS!!!
ESPECIALLY BE EXTRA CAREFUL DO NOT CLICK VIDEOS WITH ON IT!!! - THAT ARE SENT TO UR INBOX BY A SO CALLED FRIEND U HARDLY KNOW!!!
EVEN IF U KNOW THE PERSON WELL ASK QUESTIONS
AGAIN ASK FOR EXPLANATION - AND ASK THEM A PERSONAL QUESTION AND IF THEY SENT IT
DO NOT CLICK!!!! IF NO EXPLANATION!!! OR REPLY!!!
IGNORE IT!!!! DO NOT OPEN OR CLICK!!!


Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept friendship request from james wood . He is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received.
Hold your finger down on the message. At the bottom in the it will say forward. Hit that then click on the names of those in your list and it will send to them


New Hacker warning on FB messenger but did not see it here when I checked for validity. I usually shit these down with a link from Snopes. But there is nothing so here is what I received:
Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept anything from Fabrizio Brambilla. He has a foto with a dog. He is a hacker and has the system connected to your messanger account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received.
Hold your finger down on the message. At the bottom in the middle it will say forward. Hit that then click on the names of those in your list and it will send to them


Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept friendship request from Andrea Wilson . She is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks.


Please tell all contacts in your messenger list not to accept Dominique Amblard's request for friendship. He is a hacker who has a system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked. Make sure that all your contacts know it.
Thank you.
Retransmits as received.


Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept bright Victor, Desmond kelechi or Sharon Emeka or Okechukwu Anni friendship request is one person using different account and with people’s pictures. He is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it.


“Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept friendship request from sherman stuurman . he is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received.


Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept anything from Lucia Hernandez (Luciana). She has a picture of her sitting by the water)She is a hacker and has the system connected to your messanger account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received.


Please tell All your contacts on messenger not to accept a friend request from klara mesel . She has a picture of her standing holding her glasses…..she is a hacker … copy paste and send to all your contacts.


Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept friendship request from Natalie Avalos. He is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received.

Updates

Reformatted and restructured examples for clarity.

David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.

Article Tags