Scam library · Small business
Fake Meta copyright violation message
A message, comment or email says your Facebook or Instagram page violated copyright or community standards and will be disabled within 24 hours. Click to appeal.
The appeal link goes to a fake Meta page that asks for your login, your two-factor code, or even a photo of your ID.
Small businesses, creators, churches and community groups are all targeted, because their pages matter to them and they want to fix problems fast.
What the message looks like
From: 'Meta Pro Support' on Messenger
Your page has been reported for copyright infringement and will be permanently disabled within 24 hours.
If you think this is a mistake, submit an appeal here: meta-appeal-center[.]help
How this scam works
Scammers send these through Messenger, page comments tagging you, or emails that look like Meta's. Some come from pages named 'Meta Support' or 'Page Policy Team' with blue badges in the profile picture.
Once they have your login and code, they take over the page, remove you as admin, and use it to run ads or scams. Business pages with followers and ad accounts are valuable to them.
Real Meta notices about your account appear in your account's Support Inbox or Account Status inside the app.
Recovery can take weeks, so prevention is worth it. Make sure more than one trusted person is an admin, turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app, and keep your login email current. If one admin is phished, another can act quickly.
Red flags
- A 24-hour deadline before your page is disabled.
- Messages from pages or profiles calling themselves Meta support.
- Links to sites that aren't facebook.com or meta.com.
- Requests for your password, two-factor code or ID.
- Copyright claims that don't name any specific post.
How to tell it’s fake
- Check your account status and Support Inbox in the Facebook or Instagram app.
- Look at the link's real domain before clicking.
- Turn on two-factor authentication and add a backup admin.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- If you didn't enter anything, report the message and block the sender.
If you paid
- If you paid for 'verification' or 'reinstatement', contact your card issuer.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you entered your password or code, change your password immediately, log out other sessions and use Meta's hacked account recovery at facebook.com/hacked.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
Scam Guard in Chrome and Edge on your computer checks the pages you open from Facebook messages. It recognizes fake 'Meta appeal' sites and warns before you type your password, code or ID. If a notice seems legit, get a scam expert's second look first.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- Does Meta message you about copyright?
- Real notices appear in your Support Inbox or Account Status, not in random chats.
- I gave them my code. What now?
- Change your password and use facebook.com/hacked to secure your account.
- Why do they want my page?
- Pages with followers and ad accounts can be used to run scams and ads.
- How can I tell if a message is really from Meta?
- Open the Facebook or Instagram app yourself and look under Account Status or Support Inbox. If the warning isn't there, it isn't real. Meta also lists its genuine recent emails in your security settings.