Social Networking Warnings

I love Facebook, I love Twitter, LinkedIn, and on and on my list goes.

But I have to say, I had a bad day with FB today when I was out and about and checked my phone to see that someone had sent me a message about a possible message I had sent them.

Subject matter: NOT to be discussed in the presence of minors.

I was horrified that anyone I was friends with could have possibly been sent some icky adult themed message with my picture next to it like I actually sent it to them. So, I decided to investigate and wanted pass on some information to my fellow Social Networker extraordinaires in the Real Estate Business.

Tip 1:

If you get a Facebook message from a friend you don't usually hear from DON'T OPEN THEIR MESSAGE!!   I haven't seen any information on the web about getting or speading a virus just by opening the message, but I'd like to recommend weighing on the side of caution and just DELETE the message all together. Matter of fact, if it's someone you haven't heard from in a while and they are sending you a link, it's probably SPAM of PHISHING.

Recommendation: Delete the message and send them one or write on their wall to see if they really sent you a message about _______ topic? If they didn't, then you know it was your best judgement to not open that message and look, you reconnected!!

Tip 2:

If you get a Facebook message from someone that has a TON of other names attached to it, and has some outrageous subject matter unlike your personality as they know you, probably PHISHING.

Recommendation: REPLY ALL to the message and state the truth in your own words, then REPORT AS SPAM to notify Facebook staff immediately.

Tip 3:

If you see a link that doesn't start with http://www then you may not want to EVER click on that. The one I received started out with something other than that and it just didn't feel right. Gut feeling is usually right on.

Recommendation: If you get those links, avoid them like the plague!!! Go to google and in the search just start typing the first few characters and see what options you get. I don't recommend actually going to the page but usually the description will give an indication of the type of site it is.

Social Networking is an amazing part of our business so we never want to have our reputation tainted by an irritation like these. So always be cautious!

Good luck everyone!

Heidi