I actually find it remarkable that FB scams don't get more press. You still hear more about scam and phishing email than the crap that's floating around in social media.

Mendalla

Can you elaborate on this part?

At least the last part of this scam isn't sophisticated at all.  Hopefully that's enough of a warning to almost everyone.  There's always someone though, otherwise scammers wouldn't do it :(

Someone lonely, someone desperate, someone vulnerable.

This happened to a family member of mine who honestly believed that the person she was talking to was someone that was well known and trusted.

This family member was asked to send a Western Union transfer, which she indicated she could not do . . . and the conversation ended at that point.

I am just so angry that people play on those who are vulnerable . . .

Parents, Caregivers, Those Who Help the Vulnerable . . . make sure if they are on Facebook that they are protected.

Anyone else had this happen to them lately?

Beloved, was the fraud department contacted?  I haven't heard of this one, although Western Union is commonly used for many scams.  I checked out the Sophos FB page (they are good for covering popular FB scams) and there's nothing on there.

https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/Fraud%20Alert%20...

I'm not sure chemgal - still checking into that.  Somehow they must have hacked or created a facebook page with this person's name, etc. on it, and then they ask you to friend them.  Once you friend them they begin the chat, fooling you into thinking it is this friend. 

I have not personally reported it, but the friend who was either hacked or copied or whatever has.

Those who are vulnerable and trusting of others are at risk.

My daughter didn't get as far as actually being scammed . . . didn't give any money . . . but she did get sucked in to thinking that she was talking to a real friend . . . and followed the friends instructions to pursue the link.  We had some looonnnng talks yesterday - when you have an adult child who wants to be independent but is vulnerable it is very challenging.  We are working at it .

It helps the fraud department do their job.

As for getting sucked in at the beginning, I think that's easy enough to happen.  I've friended people who weren't who I thought they were.  I think I fell for a likejacking spam thing before, I know facebook friends who did many.  The important thing is to stop following through when something feels off.

chemgal, I think we've deleted all the information on her computer about the chats and directions - can I still report it even though I don't have the info?

I don't see why not.  Any information you can provide them helps them.  At the very least, when scams become more frequent, they publicize that particular scam to warn others.

If you look on the left hand side of the link, there's contact info to report it.  There's even an online form if you want to do it that way.