High riskSocial Media

Facebook Copyright Violation Scam

This scam sends a message or email claiming your Facebook page broke copyright or community rules and will be deleted within 24 hours unless you 'appeal' through a link, which leads to a fake login page built to steal your password.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Account phishing scam
Main red flag
An urgent warning that your page will be deleted unless you appeal through a link.
What to do first
Do not click the link. Check for any genuine notices inside Facebook's official Support or Account Quality area.

How this scam works

This scam sends a message or email claiming your Facebook page broke copyright or community rules and will be deleted within 24 hours unless you 'appeal' through a link, which leads to a fake login page built to steal your password.

Social media scams spread through direct messages, ads, hacked friends' accounts, and fake profiles. They range from account-takeover phishing and fake giveaways to investment and romance fraud, exploiting the trust and reach of your own network.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: An urgent warning that your page will be deleted unless you appeal through a link. Do not click the link. Check for any genuine notices inside Facebook's official Support or Account Quality area.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Facebook Account Recovery Scam and the Instagram Verification Scam. See the full Social Media Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A countdown such as '24 hours' designed to make you act before thinking
  • A link that does not lead to the official facebook.com domain
  • A login page that asks for your password, email and sometimes your phone or date of birth
  • Poor grammar, odd spacing, or a sender name that only looks like Meta or Facebook
  • A message sent by direct message, comment, tag, or email rather than an in-app notification

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Meta: Your page has violated our copyright policy and will be permanently removed within 24 hours. To appeal this decision, verify your account here: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: An urgent warning that your page will be deleted unless you appeal through a link.

The scale of it

$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that began on social media in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Top channel
social media was among the most common ways scams reached people in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

How to protect yourself

  • Do not click the link or enter your login details anywhere it sends you
  • Open Facebook directly and check the official Support Inbox or Account Quality page for real notices
  • Report the message or post to Facebook as a scam or impersonation
  • Make sure two-factor authentication is switched on for your account

Already responded? Do this now

  • Change your Facebook password immediately from the official site or app
  • Turn on two-factor authentication if it was not already active
  • Review active login sessions and log out any devices you do not recognise
  • Change the password on any other account where you reused the same one

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not enter your password on a page you reached through the link
  • Do not share any verification codes sent to your phone
  • Do not forward the appeal link to other pages or admins

Related scams to know

High risk Social Media

Facebook Account Recovery Scam

This scam uses a hacked friend's account to ask you to be a 'recovery contact' or share a code, which actually hands your own account to the scammer.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Instagram Verification Scam

This scam offers a blue verification badge or warns your account is at risk, then links to a fake login page that steals your password.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Hacked Friend Help Scam

A message arrives from a friend's account asking for money, a verification code, or to click a link. In reality the friend's account has been taken over, and the scammer is using your trust in them to reach you.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Does Facebook delete pages with 24-hour warnings by direct message?
Genuine policy notices normally appear inside your Support Inbox or Account Quality page, not as urgent direct messages or comments with a short countdown. A 24-hour deletion threat through a link is a common scam pattern.
The message used the Meta logo, so is it real?
Logos and brand names are easy to copy. Treat the link, the sender address, and the demand for your password as the things that matter, and check inside Facebook itself rather than trusting the design.
What if I already entered my password?
Change your Facebook password right away and turn on two-factor authentication. Then review your active sessions and log out any unfamiliar devices to push the scammer out.
How can I report a Facebook copyright scam?
You can report the message or post directly to Facebook as a scam or impersonation, and report phishing to your national anti-fraud centre.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.