Over the past year, Facebook business accounts have been targeted by spam messages that look something like this:
It’s not great, especially if/when an individual who isn’t aware this is spam clicks on one of the links contained within the message (which is often a phishing scheme or something similar that takes over an account). It preys on those trying to manage their own accounts but might not be as familiar with these spam tactics. After all, it’s alarming when you get a message telling you that your page — that is often helping drive business! — is threatened to be shut down.
(Unfortunately, there isn’t a great solution for THIS just yet, so be sure to let anyone with access to a Facebook Business page know not to click on anything within the message and instead report as spam.)
In the last week, however, the messages have become overwhelming. Instead of coming from a fake account, they are now arriving in mass numbers from “Guest 1234” or some variation. One account I have access to received 15 of these messages in four hours, and I’ve spoken to several businesses facing the same issue. It’s even become a hot topic on Reddit and other sites as people try to sort this out.
Without turning off messages entirely (which many don’t want to do for their legitimate customers), what can you do?
Good news: I have a solution! (And I’m providing both directions and photos below.)
1) Toggle into your business account from a computer (not your phone). Once in your account, click on the messenger tab toward the top right. That will open your messenger.
2) Once the messenger page opens, click on the little gear toward the top right.
3) An inbox settings will open and you will click on “Chat Plugin” from the list.
4) Scroll down in the information that pops up until you find “Customize your Chat Plugin.” Click the down arrow.
5) Find “Guest chat” and toggle the option off.
(This will stop people who are not logged into Facebook from sending your page messages, AKA the “Guest 1234.”)
6) Hit publish and you’re good to go!
This unfortunately won’t solve all spam message issues, but it will take care of the Guest Account issue we’re seeing right now. These Guest messages are coming from a new guest chat plugin feature that is being abused by spammers, so it’s best to turn it off until the issues are resolved. Those logged into their Facebook accounts will still be able to send you messages as needed.
I’ve talked with a number of people frustrated by the sheer volume of spam messages their pages have started to receive, so I hope this helps alleviate some of those pain points.
If you have any social media questions you’d like addressed, reach out. I also run my own social media marketing and branding agency, and I’m happy to chat more if I can ever be a partner in your social media journey.
Cheers!
Erin