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How to recover when your Facebook account is hacked

There’s only so much you can do.

By David Strom

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Hopefully, the day will never come when you find your Facebook account has been hacked or taken over. It is an awful feeling, and I feel for you, for the world of hurt that you will experience in time and perhaps money to return your account to your rightful control. 

Let me take you through the recovery process. Afterward, I’ll provide some proactive security pointers you can follow to prevent this awful moment from happening, or at least reduce the chances that it will.

Three ways you can lose control of your Facebook account

There are actually three different possible scenarios.

Scenario 1. You let a family member or friend “borrow” your Facebook account on your computer or phone. They proceed to consume content, post messages as you, or befriend random people. This happened to a friend of mine, who had a grandchild staying at her home for a week. The girl left town and left a mess behind on my friend’s Facebook account. “She didn’t post anything to my account, but I had odd friend requests that I had to clean up. I decided to just quit using my account.” This is more of a nuisance than a hack, but still annoying.

Remedy : First, use Facebook’s security page to check and see where else your account is already logged in.

This list should also remind you of all of the devices that you have used Facebook on in the past. I took this screenshot after I found (and then removed) an older Windows laptop that I hadn’t used in years on the list. You’ll also see an entry for my iPhone that is located somewhere in Indiana. I haven’t visited that state in years, so sometimes the geo-location algorithms are a bit wonky. Even if your account isn’t hacked, it is helpful to routinely check this screen to make sure you haven’t enabled a login by mistake.

If you don’t recognize (or don’t use) any of the devices on this list, click on the three vertical dots on the right and force those machines to log out of your account. Next, change your password to something unique. Also, remember in the future to sign out of Facebook (and Messenger) before you loan your device to anyone.

Scenario 2. Someone uses your photo and name and sets up a new account. Then they proceed to try to recruit your FB friends to their account.

Remedy : There isn’t much you can do about it, other than tell people you are still you and to ignore the imposter. This should be a warning when you receive a friend request from someone you think you have already befriended, or someone you haven’t communicated with in years. A word to the wise: send them an email or text asking if the request is genuine.

Scenario 3. The doomsday scenario . Someone guesses your account password and proceeds to lock you out of your account. This situation is the most dire, and fixing this will depend on what else you have linked to your Facebook account and how determined you are to get it back.

This happened to Elizabeth, a book author. She ended up working with two different friends who were IT professionals and a lawyer over the course of four months. She had two complicating factors that made recovering her account difficult. 

First, she used Facebook ads to promote her books, so she had connected her login to her credit cards. This resulted in the hacker charging her card with their own ads to try to lure other victims to compromise themselves. 

The second complication was that she was using her pen name and a random birthday date for her account. During the recovery process, Facebook asks that you scan your ID to verify who you are. When she told me this, I became concerned for myself. For years I prided myself on using January 1 as my Facebook “birthday.” Now she was telling me that I was setting myself up for trouble if someone hacked my account.

She eventually got her password reset, but almost immediately the hacker reset and took over her account again. “I tried to get someone at Facebook to help me, but I couldn’t get anyone on the phone,” she told me. Before the pandemic, the company had a special phone hotline for industry insiders, “but this was discontinued,” she said. She had more success blocking the credit card charges by phoning her bank. “I was trying to be a step ahead of the hacker, and losing sleep. My whole life was put on hold as I tried to deal with the situation. I got no work done for months. I ended up changing my passwords on more than 30 different accounts.”

Possible remedies: if you find yourself in this last situation, you have three basic choices:

1. Now would be a good time to leave Facebook . The trouble is, you have someone who is pretending to be you, and could leverage your identity into criminal and uncomfortable situations. Not to mention that they could try to leverage bank accounts that are linked to your account or open up credit cards in your name. (More on that in a moment.)

2. Try to reinstate your account on your own , using Facebook’s own obscure and oftentimes contradictory steps . That is the way most people I know have tried. However, you will find out very quickly that there is no easy way to do this. You have to communicate with Facebook support through someone else’s account, which seems somewhat contradictory, so hopefully your spouse or friend is willing to lend a hand. (Don’t be tempted to set up a second account, because that could result in both of your accounts eventually being canceled.) Then you have to choose one of several options (finding an unauthorized post, an account that uses your own name and/or photos) and enter the rabbit hole to recover your account. 

If you use Facebook as a means to log into other internet services, you will have to disconnect these links — otherwise a hacker can then compromise these other accounts. If, like Elizabeth, you have connected your credit card or other financial accounts, you will have to contact these institutions and get these charges rescinded. Start by trying to use Facebook from other devices you have previously used: perhaps the hacker hasn’t automatically logged you out.

3. Use a third-party recovery service , such as Hacked.com . This will cost you $249, but the company will be persistent and if they can’t help you, they will refund your fee. You also get a year’s digital protection plan included that normally sells separately for $99. If you have a complex situation like Elizabeth (connected finances, non-matching birthday), I recommend using this path. 

But make sure you aren’t employing some random hacker who might be taking your money and doing nothing else. I spoke to Hacked.com founder Jonas Borchgrevink, who outlined the various sequences of steps that his staffers try in a recent Washington Post article . And he confirmed that if you are using a different name from what is shown on your ID, it is almost impossible to recover your account.

Proactive security measures

If you haven’t been hacked (yet) and are getting somewhat uncomfortable reading this, here are some steps to take to secure your Facebook account, or to at least reduce your pain points if it does happen. Start by doing at least one of them today, and make sure you take care of all of the items as soon as possible.

1. Set up additional login security on your Facebook account. Facebook offers you a set of confusing choices, but the one that I recommend is to use a two-factor authenticator app such as Google Authenticator. (You can start at this Facebook page .)

Two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) uses an Android or iOS smartphone app as part of the login process. After you supply your username and password, Facebook asks you to type in a series of six numbers that are generated by the app. These numbers change every minute, so you need your phone nearby when you log in. If you want extra credit, take the time to enable this second factor method on your other accounts, including any banks and credit card companies that support this method (sadly, too few do).

Elizabeth was using a less secure method for her second factor: sending the six numbers as a text message to her phone. You can read more about why this isn’t my preference .

2. Check to see if you have any payment methods configured on Facebook. While preparing for this article, I was surprised to find my PayPal address linked to my Facebook account — and I thought I was being careful about my Facebook security. There are two places to check. First, there is the page that shows if you have set up any credit cards to make direct payments to individuals or causes, called Facebook Pay. Go to this other link to remove any ad payment methods . If you are running any ad campaigns on your business, you will have to stop them first. 

3. Remove connected apps and websites. If you have signed on to third-party apps using your Facebook credentials, now is the time to review and remove them (you can find the appropriate page here ). The same is true with removing any business integrations . You take a small hit in not being able to automatically log into these other services, but you also protect yourself if your account has been compromised.

If you have a Facebook business page, you should have at least two people who have admin rights to this page. (Go to Page Settings > Page Roles.) If your business account is hacked and you are the sole admin, it will be next to impossible to get it recovered. This contact should also have second factor authentication turned on.

4. Check your account’s email contacts ( using this Facebook page ). You should have at least a second contact email (or more) that Facebook can use to send you notifications in case your main email address becomes compromised. Of course, use different passwords with these different email accounts.

I know, this seems like a lot of work, and there are a lot of places in the Facebook settings pages that you will have to visit and pay attention to. And chances are, the links provided above might not work in the future, as Facebook likes to make changes to its settings. 

If these activities to make yourself more secure haven’t gotten you frustrated, you might want to continue improving your security. I recommend either the Jumbo smartphone app for iOS and Android, or Avast One (available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android). Either can help walk you through the numerous steps to secure your Google, Twitter, and other accounts.

Parting words of wisdom

Think before you click. If you get a message from what looks like a social media company saying that your account has been compromised, don’t follow any links or call any phone numbers in the message. This could be a lure from a hacker. Instead, navigate to the site or use its own app directly.

Be aware of things that seem unusual . Keep an eye out for messages you didn’t send, posts you didn’t create, or purchases you didn’t make. These could be tells that someone has guessed your password or compromised your account. If you are lucky, it might be an errant teen using one of your computers.

As Elizabeth told me, “Being hacked is like getting a digital tattoo — everyone can see the after-effects of your poor choices.”  

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Hacked Facebook Account: Immediate Recovery Steps

Regain control of your Facebook account

• Auburn University

In This Article

Jump to a Section

How Was My Account Hacked?

• Step-by-Step: Report the Hack

Alert Your Friends

• Step-by-Step: Delete Unknown Apps
• Extra: Enable Two-Factor Authentication
• Extra: Run Security Checkup
• Extra: Change Your Facebook Password Regularly

Facebook and its more than 2 billion active users are an attractive target for hackers. Some of the more successful hacks appear in the news, but many hacks are smaller and affect only some Facebook users.

Indicators that someone may have hacked your Facebook account are:

• Your email or password has changed.
• Your name or birthday has changed.
• Fake friend requests have been sent from your account to people you don't know.
• Friend requests have been sent to people who are already your friends.
• Posts that you didn't create appear to be from you.
• Friends receive messages from you that you didn't write.

If any of these telltale signs happen to you or you notice any other unusual activity, take fast action to protect your account.

When you think your Facebook account may have been hacked, change your password before you do anything else. If you no longer have access to your Facebook account, immediately follow the steps described below.

These directions work for any Facebook account. The steps described below require access to the desktop version of Facebook.com.

Hackers may have gained access to your Facebook account in any number of ways.

They could have guessed your password, or they may have set up an Evil Twin Wi-Fi hotspot at a coffee shop and stolen your credentials through a man-in-the-middle attack. Maybe you left your account logged in at a computer lab at your school or library, or hackers could be using your account from a stolen tablet or phone.

Regardless of how they managed to obtain your Facebook credentials, the best thing to do is move quickly to limit the amount of damage and try to prevent any further hacks.

Report a Compromise to Facebook

If you can't recover your Facebook password and access your account, you can still report a possible hack to the company and receive help to reset your password:

Open Facebook's Report Compromised Account page.

Click My Account Is Compromised .

Enter the phone number or email address associated with your account, and then click Search .

Type your current password or an old one, and then click Continue .

Select one of the options from the list that indicate why you think your account has been hacked, and then click Continue .

Facebook explains that you need to change your password and confirm that recent changes to your account came from you to keep your account secure.

Click Get Started .

Follow the instructions provided to secure your account and change your password.

Tell your Facebook friends that your account was hacked. Warn them not to click any links that may have come from your account during the time it was hacked and out of your control.

Hackers who compromised your account may have posted on your friends' pages or sent links in comments or private messages.

Delete Unknown Apps From Your Account

Eliminate any Facebook apps installed on your account that you don't recognize. While you're at it, delete apps you no longer use. At some point, you may have granted the apps access to some of your personal information.

Open the Facebook menu by clicking the arrow in the top right corner.

Click Settings .

Click Apps and Websites from the left pane.

Check the box next to the Facebook apps you want to remove, and then click Remove .

Click Remove again on the confirmation prompt. You also have the opportunity to delete every post, photo, and video that the apps posted on your behalf.

If you click View and edit on an app, it shows the level of access it has to your account and the information Facebook shares with it.

Also on the Apps and Website page are additional tabs at the top where you can find expired apps (apps that had access at one time, but their permissions have since lapsed) and past apps (which have been removed from your account).

Removed or expired apps still have the information shared with them while the apps were active, but they can no longer access that information from your Facebook account after they expire or are removed.

Clicking the tile for a removed or expired app tells you the best method to request that the app delete your information.

Prevention: Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Don't wait for the next hack to take steps to improve your Facebook security and privacy. To prevent your account from being compromised again, Facebook strongly recommends using two-factor authentication .

Activating this feature requires an additional form of authentication beyond your password when anyone attempts to log in to your account. The second form of authentication can be a number code texted to your phone or a code generated by a separate authentication app on your phone, or a smart key inserted into your computer's USB drive.

When you have two-factor authorization in place, someone could have full access to your password, but unless they also have your second means of authentication (like your phone or a physical token), they can't get into your Facebook account.

To enable two-factor authentication on your Facebook account:

Click the down arrow in the upper right corner of Facebook to access the menu.

Click Security and Login in the left pane.

Click Edit next to Use two-factor authentication .

You may be prompted to ensure your password. Enter it and then click Get Started .

Select either Text Message or Authentication App , and then click Next .

If you choose Text Message , enter the code in the fields provided. If you choose Authentication App , launch it on your phone and follow the instructions.

Click Finish when you see the Two-Factor Authentication Is On message.

Be wary of relying solely on text-message solutions for two-factor authentication. In addition to SIM spoofing (in which someone gets the phone company to reassign your number to a different device), if you lose access to your phone or you change phone numbers, you'll need help regaining access.

Prevention: Run Security Checkup

Facebook's Security Checkup feature adds additional security to your account. Use it to:

• Log out of Facebook and Messenger from unused browsers and apps.
• Receive an alert when someone logs in to your account from an unrecognized mobile device or computer.

Prevention: Change Your Facebook Password Regularly

Resetting your password regularly is a good habit to adopt. You can do it at any time.

Launch Facebook's menu from the down arrow in the upper right corner of the page.

Click Edit next to Change password in the Login section of the center pane.

Enter your current password next to Current , type a new password in the New field, and then type the new password once more to confirm in the Re-type new text box.

Click Save Changes .

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How-To Geek

How to contact facebook for account help.

There are multiple ways to get in touch with FB.

Quick Links

Can you contact facebook by phone, can you email facebook for support, contact facebook on twitter, use facebook's help & support menu, contact facebook using help forms, turn to how-to geek to get your facebook queries answered, key takeaways.

While you can try to contact Facebook directly via phone and email address, it's difficult, if not impossible, to get a response. Tweeting at Facebook could get a response, and you can also visit Facebook's Help Center or complete a support request form.

Facebook trouble? Whether you have an account-related issue , or you want to report a bug or problem, you have a few ways to contact Facebook support. We'll show you what your contact options are.

Related: What to Do if Your Facebook Account Gets "Hacked"

When you think of contacting a company for help, you likely first think of placing a call to talk to a customer service representative. Unfortunately, reaching Facebook support by phone is nearly impossible and not particularly useful in most cases.

Facebook does have a couple of numbers you can call to try getting in touch with the company. However, both phone numbers only play a pre-recorded message. You can't talk to a real human on either number.

If you want to try your luck calling them regardless, Facebook's support phone numbers are:

• +1 650-543-4800
• +1 650-308-7300

As of August 2023, those numbers are still valid and owned by Facebook. They still, alas, simply direct you to visit meta.com/help , Facebook's online help database. As always, be cautious when calling a support number. If you should call either of these numbers in the future and instead of an automated message, there is a person very interested in getting your Facebook login data, financial data, or other personal information, assume the number is no longer used by Facebook and the person on the other end is running a scam.

Facebook doesn't encourage people to contact it via email. However, in the past, Facebook listed a few email addresses that you could use to contact Facebook directly.

You can still try sending an email to one of these email addresses and possibly get a response. There's no guarantee, though. Your chance of getting a response, however, is much higher than calling the automated phone numbers we mentioned above.

• [email protected] : Use this email to get general support.
• [email protected] : Send your press-related queries to this email.
• [email protected] : Use this email for law enforcement concerns.
• [email protected] : Appeal against your blocked content using this email.
• [email protected] : Report content violating Facebook's guidelines via this email address.
• [email protected] : Use this email to ask Facebook what data it has about you.
• [email protected] : For intellectual property-related queries, use this email.
• [email protected] : Report phishing content via this email address.

We'd encourage you only to use the email addresses for their suggested purposes. It's already difficult enough to get an email response from Facebook, and if everyone spams their inquiries across multiple Facebook inboxes, it just creates more noise on the communication channel for people with legitimate abuse reports, intellectual property queries, or other issues.

These days, one of the ways you can contact a company is by tweeting them on Twitter, and Facebook is no exception.

You can send a tweet to one of Facebook's Twitter handles, and possibly get a response. There's no guarantee your query will be looked at, but it's worth trying if your issue doesn't need to be fixed urgently. Or, conversely, if the issue is very pressing and nobody is responding to you a social media shoutout is a time-honored way to get the attention of a large company that has otherwise been ignoring you.

Some of Facebook's official handles are @Meta , @FacebookApp , and @Messenger .

If you didn't get a response from Facebook's phone number, email, or Twitter account, use the platform's "Help & Support" menu to get help on many matters. This menu lets you access the site's Help Center, view responses to your reported items , and even allows you to report a bug or send feedback to Facebook.

An easy way to get help from Facebook is to access the platform's "Help & Support" menu. This menu contains the options to help you access Help Center, view responses to your reported items , and report a bug or send feedback to Facebook.

You can access this menu on both your desktop and your phone.

Related: How to Login to Facebook Without a Code Generator

Get Help From Facebook on Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook

To get help on your desktop computer, launch your preferred web browser and open Facebook . There, sign in to your account.

After signing in, from the Facebook site's top-right corner, select your profile icon.

In the menu that opens, click "Help & Support."

The "Help & Support" menu offers multiple options to get help from Facebook. These options are:

• Help Center : This takes you to Facebook's Help Center website that contains loads of resourceful guides and explainers. You'll find answers to nearly all your queries on this site.
• Support Inbox : You'll find responses for your reported items in this section. You'll also see important messages about your account here.
• Report a Problem : To report a broken feature or give feedback on something, use this option.

When you've chosen an option, Facebook will open a dedicated page allowing you to submit your request. And that's all.

Related: How to Report a Whole Facebook Group

Get Facebook's Help on an iPhone, iPad, or Android Phone

To access the platform's help options on your phone, launch the Facebook app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

If you're on Android, then in the app's top-right corner, tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines). If you're on an iPhone or iPad, then in your screen's bottom-right corner, tap the "Menu" option.

On the "Menu" page that opens, scroll down to the bottom. Then, tap "Help & Support."

In the expanded "Help & Support" menu, select one of the following options:

• Help Center : Tap this option to access Facebook's Help Center where you'll find a guide on nearly any Facebook topic. You'll also get answers to many of your account-related problems in this Help Center.
• Support Inbox : Use this option to see the responses you've received for your reported content. Important messages regarding your account are also found here.
• Report a Problem : To send Facebook a bug report or feedback, select this option.

After tapping an option, follow the on-screen instructions to proceed further.

One more way you can contact Facebook directly is through forms. Facebook makes several forms available that you can use to submit requests or report problems with your account or someone else's. Here are some of the forms that you can use on the site:

• Photo Removal Request : To remove your own, your child, or another adult's photo from the platform, use this form.
• Account Was Disabled : If your account is disabled, use this form to request Facebook to review the account.
• Change Name : Use this form to change your first, middle, and last name in your account.
• Confirm Identity : You can confirm your identity on Facebook by submitting a valid ID card using this form.
• Medically Incapacitated or Deceased Person : To make changes to an account whose account holder can't do it because of medical reasons, use this form.
• Report Violation : To report trademark or copyright violations, utilize this form.
• Email Already in Use : If someone's using your email address in a Facebook account, report it with this form.
• Report Underage Child : If a child below the age of 13 is using Facebook, use this form to report that child's profile to Facebook.
• Child Data Request : Get the data Facebook has on your child with this form.
• Report a Page Unavailable Error : If you encounter a "Page Unavailable" error on Facebook, use this form to let Facebook know about it.

After accessing a form, fill the form and submit it. Facebook will review your request and take appropriate action or get back to you asking for more details.

We understand the pain of not being able to get an important query answered. That's why here at How-To Geek, we've written several guides on how you can use various Facebook features, how to troubleshoot your account problems, and more.

You can check out our Facebook archive to access all the articles we've published about this platform. In our archive, you'll find out how to reset your Facebook password , change your Facebook username , delete your Facebook account , and lots more. And while you're at it, you can take a peek at our broader social media coverage to stay on top of not just Facebook news and issues but other platforms like Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and more.

Related: How to Contact Instagram For Account Help

How to Recover Your Facebook Account When You Can't Log In

Forgot your password? Were you hacked? Here's how to recover your Facebook account using proven Facebook account recovery options.

Whether you forgot your password or got hacked, you can still recover your Facebook account. Most of Facebook's automated account recovery options depend on the information you entered and validated when you first set up your account. If you never completed the information or if it's outdated, chances are slim that you'll be able to regain access to your account. But you can use these options to recover your Facebook account.

1. Check if You're Still Logged Into Facebook Somewhere

Before you try to recover your account, check whether you are still logged into Facebook on any of your devices. This could be another browser or browser profile on your computer, your Facebook Android or iOS app.

If you can still access Facebook, you can try to "recover" your Facebook password without a confirmation reset code, though what you'll actually do is create a new password.

To change your password:

• Open the Accounts Center .
• If you're using the Facebook website, click your Facebook profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings > See more in Accounts Center . If you're on the mobile app, tap your Facebook profile picture > Settings icon > See more in Accounts Center .
• In the Accounts Center, click Password and security > Change password and select your Facebook account.
• You'll have to enter your current password, followed by your new password. Click the Forgot your password? option if that's the issue.

This is also the safest and quickest method to recover a hacked Facebook account , as Facebook will let you log out of all other devices. Once you have reset your password, also consider setting up two-factor authentication on Facebook . If you can't log back into your account because Facebook retired its Code Generator, here's how you can now get a login confirmation code for Facebook .

2. Try the Default Facebook Account Recovery Options

If you couldn't find a device where you were still logged into Facebook, proceed with the following recovery options.

Recover Your Account From Its Profile Page

Use this option if you can access your profile from the account of a Facebook friend. This could be a friend or family member. Note that it will require logging out of the other account.

Find your profile on your Facebook friend's friend list, open it, and click the three-dots icon on the left-hand side of the menu bar (in the mobile app, the three-dot menu will show up next to the Message button), then select Find Support or Report Profile (on mobile, the option is Report profile ).

From the next menu, select the appropriate option, in this case Something else > Recover this account .

Facebook will log you out of the account you're using, to start the account recovery. This method will lead you to the same Reset Your Password window described under Option 2 . The recovery is based on the contact data you added to your account.

If you need more help with the recovery steps, follow the instructions from the second screenshot below.

Option 2: Find and Recover Your Account With Contact Details

If you don't have access to Facebook at all or prefer not to log out of another account, open a new browser profile and head to the Facebook recovery page .

Enter an email address or mobile number you previously added to your Facebook account. When you search for a phone number, try it with or without your country code, e.g., 1, +1, or 001 for the US—all three versions should work. Even if it doesn't say so, you can also use your Facebook username.

Once you have successfully managed to identify your account, you will see a summary of your profile. Before you proceed, carefully check if this really is your account and if you still have access to the email address or phone number listed. You may be able to choose between email or phone recovery.

If all looks well with the contact details that Facebook has on file for you, click Continue . Facebook will send you a security code. Retrieve the code from your email or phone (depending on which method you chose), enter it, and rejoice in having recovered your Facebook account.

At this point, you can set a new password, which we strongly recommend.

If the code never arrives, check your email account's spam folder, make sure you can receive text messages from unknown senders, and ensure you haven't blocked Facebook's number on your phone.

If you still can't receive the code, click Didn't get a code? in the bottom-left corner of the Enter Security Code window, which will take you back to the previous screen.

You can try again, or maybe you'll realize that you don't have access to the account after all.

Log Back Into Your Facebook Account

If you managed to regain access to your account, and if you suspect that your Facebook account was hacked , immediately change your password and update your contact information.

These are key steps in securing your Facebook account. Be sure to remove any email addresses or phone numbers that are not your own or that you can no longer access.

We strongly recommend that you enable two-factor authentication on all of your social media accounts , so that this won't happen again.

3. Use a Device Facebook Will Recognize

Often, it's not possible to recover a Facebook account using the options above. Maybe you lost access to the email address and phone number you once added to your profile. Or maybe a hacker changed this information. In that case, your only hope is to use a device Facebook will recognize.

Use the internet connection and computer or phone from which you've frequently logged into your Facebook account to access the Get back on Facebook page.

If you see this image, you're out of luck. Facebook says it's not safe for them to give you another way to log in, and that they must stop anyone who doesn't own this account from getting into it. However, you're not out of options, yet.

If Facebook recognizes your device, you will go through a similar process as described above, but this time you'll see an additional option in the bottom left.

Click the No longer have access to these? link to start a new recovery process.

When you click on Start , Facebook will ask for a new login email and send you a code to that email address. Enter your email address and click Get code .

Immediately check your email, including the spam folder or any filters, for the code sent from [email protected]. Enter the code to confirm the email address, and click Confirm . If the code didn't come through, you can either click Resend code or go back and enter a different email address.

You won't get back into your account immediately. First, you have to upload your ID to confirm it's really you who's trying to recover the account. Once you've done that, wait until Facebook gets in touch to confirm your ID verification. Be patient.

4. Report Your Hacked Facebook Account

In the event that your account was hacked and is posting spam while you can no longer access it, you should report your Facebook account as compromised on Facebook.com/hacked .

This will actually start a similar process to the one outlined above. While you will use the same information to identify your account, in the following step, you will be able to use either a current or old Facebook password to recover your account.

This is useful in case a hacker changed your password, but it may also come in handy if you forget your new password. You can find more security-related tips on the Account Security page in the Facebook Help Center.

5. Confirm Your Identity With Facebook

If all of Facebook's automated account recovery methods have failed, your last hope is Facebook support itself. Facebook has a Help Center page that lets you confirm your identity.

Upload a JPEG (photo) of your ID, enter an email address or mobile phone number that is (or was) associated with the Facebook account you wish to recover, then click Send to submit the information.

If you no longer have access to any of the email addresses or phone numbers associated with your account, enter one you have access to now. Then email [email protected] to explain your situation.

Mention that you already submitted your ID to prove your identity. Do not attach your ID to your email, as email isn't a secure form of communication.

Either way, hearing back from Facebook can take several weeks, so you'll need to be patient. If you didn't use your real name on Facebook, your hopes for recovering your account this way are close to zero.

If All Else Fails, Create a New Facebook Profile

Over the past few years, we have received countless messages from people who weren't able to recover their Facebook accounts, even after going through all of these steps, one by one. Usually, their contact information was outdated, the recovery codes Facebook provided didn't work, or the company would never respond to verify their identity. And at that point, you're out of options.

Eventually, you just have to move on. As much as it hurts, learn from your mistakes, and create a new account. Be sure to add several valid contact details, secure your Facebook account, and rebuild your profile from scratch. It's a pain, but it's better than nothing.

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Your Facebook Account Was Hacked. Getting Help May Take Weeks — Or $299

Shannon Bond

After her Facebook account was hacked, Angela McNamara of Hamilton, Ontario, struggled to get help from the social network. Using its automated process to recover her account failed to work for her, says McNamara. Jalani Morgan for NPR hide caption

After her Facebook account was hacked, Angela McNamara of Hamilton, Ontario, struggled to get help from the social network. Using its automated process to recover her account failed to work for her, says McNamara.

Angela McNamara's first hint that her Facebook account had been hacked was an early-morning email warning that someone was trying to log into her account.

"If this is not you, don't worry, we're keeping your account safe," she recalls the email from Facebook saying. But her relief only lasted a minute, when another email arrived, saying her password had been changed. Then another, notifying her that a two-factor authentication — an extra layer of security — had been set up for her account.

"And then from there I'm just like, 'OK, it is gone,' " said McNamara, who lives outside Toronto. She tried Facebook's automated process to recover her account: getting a backup code, resetting her password. But nothing worked.

Your Technology Is Tracking You. Take These Steps For Better Online Privacy

This has been happening to a lot of people lately, and the experience has left many users nearly as frustrated with the social network as they are with the hackers. In July, NPR received 19 emails from listeners complaining that their Facebook accounts had been hacked or disabled. People share similar tales of woe on Reddit forums and Twitter every day.

Some became so desperate that they shelled out hundreds of dollars to buy a virtual reality headset in an attempt to get Facebook to restore their accounts.

When she tried to reach Facebook, "Nobody got back to me, not once"

Before going to extremes, many hacking victims try the usual routes to get customer service but quickly find out it seems impossible to reach someone at Facebook to help fix the problem.

"Facebook didn't have a phone number to call. There was no email to email," said Jessie Marsala, who lives outside Chicago and emailed NPR in early July about her situation.

After Data Breach Exposes 530 Million, Facebook Says It Will Not Notify Users

When Marsala got hacked, she tried dialing Facebook's headquarters in Silicon Valley. But that number yields a recording that says, "Unfortunately, we do not offer phone support at this time."

Instead, Facebook tells users to report hacked accounts through its website . The site instructs them to upload a copy of a driver's license or passport to prove their identities. But the people NPR spoke with said they had trouble with every step of this automated process and wish Facebook would offer a way to reach a real person.

"I sent these forms in morning, noon and night, multiple times a day," Marsala said. "Nobody got back to me, not once."

Victoria Floriani of Jersey City, N.J., only got Facebook's system to accept her driver's license after she covered up everything but her name and photo with a Post-it note — a tip she came across on Reddit. After two weeks of trying, it was the breakthrough she needed to get her account back.

All Tech Considered

Searching for 'facebook customer service' can lead to a scam.

Facebook said that because of the coronavirus pandemic, it has fewer people available to review IDs. It uses artificial intelligence, too, but its help center warns that reviews "may take longer than usual."

Facebook spokesperson Gabby Curtis told NPR in a statement that the company's help center is available 24 hours a day to assist people with problems and report issues. But Curtis acknowledged, "We also know that we need to keep improving in this area and plan to invest more in the future."

McNamara finally got her Facebook account back after buying a virtual reality headset from Oculus, a company Facebook owns. Jalani Morgan for NPR hide caption

McNamara finally got her Facebook account back after buying a virtual reality headset from Oculus, a company Facebook owns.

A solution for those willing to pay $299

Brandon Sherman of Nevada City, Calif., followed a tip he found on Reddit to get his hacked account back.

"I ultimately broke down and bought a $300 Oculus Quest 2," he said. Oculus is a virtual reality company owned by Facebook but with its own customer support system.

Sherman contacted Oculus with his headset's serial number and heard back right away. He plans to return the unopened device, and while he's glad the strategy worked, he doesn't think it's fair.

"The only way you can get any customer service is if you prove that you've actually purchased something from them," he said.

When McNamara, the Facebook user in Canada, first heard about the Oculus trick, she thought it was a joke. But she said, "Once I started thinking about it, all my memories, I really realized that I wanted to do whatever possible to get it back."

So she, too, ordered an expensive gadget she never planned to use and returned it as soon as she got back into her Facebook account.

(A warning to anyone thinking about trying this — other Reddit users have said they tried contacting Oculus support but were unable to get their Facebook accounts restored. Also, last week, Facebook said it was temporarily halting sales of the Oculus Quest 2, which retails starting at $299, because its foam lining caused skin irritation for some customers.)

Hacking victims fear losing money and memories

Losing Facebook may seem like a minor thing, but it can have real consequences .

"The very first concern, after realizing that I was getting hacked, is that these folks might be able to gain access to my business's bank account," said Ben Coleman in Fall River, Mass. "That would be a disaster."

Coleman's day job is teaching math and technology to kindergarteners through 12th-graders, but he also films videos with drone cameras and writes books about how to fold origami bonsai trees. For both ventures, he relies on Facebook to reach customers.

Coleman managed to lock his Facebook account before the hackers could gain control. But he wasn't able to unlock it — so he lost access to everything.

Building, And Losing, A Career On Facebook

For Jon Morgan in Shepherd, Mich., it got worse. Hackers used his Facebook account to vandalize the page he helps manage for his town's maple syrup festival. Facebook disabled Morgan's account — so now he has lost access to a lot of family photos, including of his son who passed away this year.

Morgan said the episode has made him realize just how embedded Facebook is in his life.

"We think of it as a kind of like a plaything or something for fun, but people share news on it, people get their news from it, it's a photo album," he said. "I think what I've kind of learned from my experience is, I really need to think about how I'm using it ... and what it means to me to lose it."

After NPR got in touch with Facebook, it sent Coleman and Marsala links to unlock their accounts and is giving Morgan another chance to appeal the disabling of his account.

What's fueling hacking? Financial gain — and even disinformation campaigns

Facebook said it has not seen a recent uptick in hacking, and it's not clear who is behind the hacks people contacted NPR about.

U.S. Suffers Over 7 Ransomware Attacks An Hour. It's Now A National Security Risk

Many attempts to hack social media accounts are financially motivated, said Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence at cybersecurity firm Trend Micro.

A hacker may try to scam the user's friends and contacts to give them money, he said, or sell accounts on the black market.

Clay said other hackers want to steal Facebook accounts to spread disinformation , about topics such as the 2020 election or COVID-19.

"The fact that social media is now a big part of everybody's lives [means] it is a major target," he said.

Editor's note: Facebook is among NPR's financial supporters.

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Recovering a Hacked Facebook Account: Comprehensive Guide and Steps

Facebook does a good job when it comes to security. However, it fails when a hacker decides to exploit a gateway and takes control of your Facebook account. It’s not always an exploit, but if someone can guess your password , it’s easy to take control. Afterward, you will probably search for several ways to recover a hacked Facebook account .

In these tense moments, you might be looking for resources to possibly recover your account. This guide will show you how to recover your hacked Facebook account and what you need to do when you suspect your account is vulnerable or someone is trying to gain access.

Ways to Recover Hacked Facebook Account

You don’t need to panic as soon as someone hacks your Facebook account. There are several ways to recover your Facebook account or stop it from being hacked. We’ll check them later in this guide.

How to Recognize if Your Facebook Account Is Compromised or Not

Before you look for ways to recover your Facebook account, you’ll need to recognize if it’s hacked or compromised in the first place. Here’s how to tell if your Facebook account is hacked or not.

• Check for Unauthorized access and check for the login locations/devices. To see that, go to Settings > Security and Login; then look for logged-in devices. If you see something suspicious, click the menu icon next to it, and select the Log Out option.
• Check if account details like Date of Birth, Name, Profile Picture, or Password were changed or not.
• Look for suspicious friend requests being sent to unknown people.
• Posts are being made on your timeline without your knowledge.
• Apps/Websites using Facebook logging out unknowingly.

How to Report and Recover Your Compromised Facebook Account

Facebook provides you the option to report your hacked Facebook account, which allows them to get back your Facebook account. Here’s how to do it.

• Select the appropriate reason that lets Facebook understand what’s happening. Once done, click the Continue option.

• Once the process is completed, it’ll give you the option to change your password after it verifies your email address.
• Follow the on-screen instructions, and you’ll be able to get your Facebook account back.

However, if you think your email address is changed when your Facebook account was hacked, Facebook will provide you the option to send a special link to your old email address, which will reverse this change and also let you reset the password.

Report a Facebook Account Impersonating You!

You might see a Facebook account resembling a similar appearance to yours. But it doesn’t mean your account got compromised. If you think your account wasn’t hacked, but someone is impersonating your profile, then Facebook provides you the option to report it as well. Here’s how to do it.

• Open the Impersonator’s Facebook profile . If you don’t know what it is, search for it or ask your relatives or friends for a link to it.

Make your Facebook Account Secure

While you might feel that your Facebook account is insecure, you can take a few measures to secure your Facebook account from these attacks. Here are some tips you need to take to achieve that.

• Use Two-Factor Authentication via SMS along with a 2FA app like Authy .
• Set Alerts for unrecognized logins from other devices.
• Log out from your Facebook account when you access it on a public or friend’s device.
• Use a Strong Password and don’t repeat them anywhere online. You can use apps like LastPass, Bitwarden, and 1Password for assistance.
• Don’t share your login details with anyone, not even friends or relatives.
• Try to keep your computer away from malware or viruses.

In addition to that, Facebook has a lot of videos on their YouTube channel that helps you create a strong password and many other tutorials that aid in security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to recover hacked facebook account without email.

It is definitely possible to recover a hacked Facebook account without an email. However, you would need to have a phone number linked to your account, which should be with you at the moment. Facebook needs this to verify that you’re the original owner of the account.

Can a Facebook account be safe after it's hacked?

The answer to this depends on what lies in the mind of the hacker. If it’s for a ransom, it’d be intact for a while. However, if it has any other dark purpose, we recommend you take this issue to your local police or the cyber police team.

How to know if my Facebook account has been hacked?

There are multiple ways to determine if your Facebook account is hacked or not. Check whether your login details and profile information have been changed or not. In addition to that, Facebook may also send you emails warning you about an unrecognized login. If that’s the case, then your account could be compromised.

Do I need to Worry if my Facebook account is hacked? Can I get it back?

No, you need not draw conclusions before you try to recover your Facebook account. It is possible to recover it back. Follow the above process, and you’ll get your account back as soon as possible. However, you need to act quickly before the hacker gets complete access.

You don’t need to panic when your Facebook account is hacked. If possible, act as quickly as possible to retain your Facebook account. Moreover, if someone asks you for a ransom, it’s better to report it to your nearest police station or cyber police when possible.

If your account was hacked, we hope you were able to get it back. If you did, let your fellow readers know of your experience and leave your suggestions if possible. Furthermore, if you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments below.

Be the Change!

Spread the word and help us create better tech content

Sajid Shaik

A 22-year-old Tech Enthusiast who is into tech more than you. New tech excites him moreover anything else. Apart from tech, he does Graphic Designing as well. He's well known for his Vector Avatar made for MKBHD.

February 14, 2024 at 10:42 AM

My Facebook was hacked and the user changed my e-mail and my password. I am not able to log in to try and change my password as suggested. Facebook does not recognize my email, although I have used the email address since first getting Facebook over 10 years ago. I have written the company a letter and mailed it. No response. I have tried their tips and instructions to recover my account. Nothing helps . I want my account back from this hacker. They are posting items for sale and asking for hundreds of dollars to hold the item until it is picked up and paid in full. The prices are ridiculously low, therefore enticing people to want to send them money. I need help!!!

May 6, 2024 at 12:09 PM

this has just happened to m,e over the weekend it is shocking. 15 years worth of memories and photos lost. did you manage to recover

October 4, 2023 at 12:34 AM

I need a Facebook expert to help fix a problem. My friend’s account was hacked 2 weeks ago, then suspended, and FB has done nothing to help! My friend has done everything possible to reach FB and performed everything they asked to recover the suspended account, need help please” Their customer service is terrible.!!

Thank you for the help!

August 22, 2023 at 12:24 AM

Account got hacked and it has all my business information and sales stuff. They have changed the email, password and number so I can’t login or get recovery codes.

August 5, 2023 at 2:56 PM

My Facebook and Instagram account have been hacked for a few days (the password was the same for both accounts). I have already followed the steps mentioned on Facebook, I even uploaded a photo of my identity card and no answer from Facebook yet… Please assist!

Thank you, Ioana

July 19, 2023 at 4:33 AM

My account was hacked yesterday. Ten thousand dollars worth of ads were spent on my meta account. And I although I tried your methods, I can’t regain access. The hacker changed the email and phone number. And Facebook are saying they don’t recognize my device even though I’ve had it for over 6 months. When I try on my cell, and get to the stage where I have to upload a selfie, it says I’ve tried the action too many times. Even from the first time trying it. Do you have any other ideas? I can’t get in contact with Facebook without an account.

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• Improve your Google Account

How to recover your Google Account or Gmail

If you forgot your password or username, or you can’t get verification codes, follow these steps to recover your Google Account. That way, you can use services like Gmail, Photos, and Google Play.

• Wrong guesses won’t kick you out of the account recovery process. There's no limit to the number of times you can attempt to recover your account.
• If you use an account through your work, school, or other group, these steps might not work. Check with your administrator for help.
• To recover an account for a child under 13 ( or the applicable age in your country ) you can reset your child's password .

Forgot your password

• You'll be asked some questions to confirm it's your account. Answer the questions as best as you can.
• If you have trouble, try the tips to complete account recovery steps .
• Reset your password when prompted. Choose a strong password that you haven't already used with this account. Learn how to create a strong password .

Forgot the email address you use to sign in

• A phone number or the recovery email address for the account.
• The full name on your account.
• Follow the instructions to confirm it’s your account.
• You’ll find a list of usernames that match your account.

Someone else is using your account

If you think someone is using your Google Account without your permission, follow the steps to recover a hacked or hijacked Google Account or Gmail .

Can’t sign in for another reason

If you have another problem, get help signing in .

Recover a deleted Google Account

If you recently deleted your Google Account, you can follow the steps to recover your account .

Still can’t sign in

Create a new account.

If you can’t sign in, try these tips for account recovery .

If you still can’t recover your account, you can create a new Google Account . When you do, you can follow these steps to  avoid getting locked out of your Google Account .

Avoid account & password recovery services

For your security, you can't call Google for help to sign into your account. We don’t work with any service that claims to provide account or password support. Do not give out your passwords or verification codes.

Need more help?

Try these next steps:.

We see you have a new Google Account! Learn how to improve your experience with your Google Account checklist.

Wallet recovery firms buzz as locked-out crypto investors panic in bitcoin boom

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BOOM IN RECOVERY REQUESTS

Investors' wallet recovery attempts.

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Reporting by Ankika Biswas and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai

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Gamestop, amc dive further as meme stocks rally tapers off.

Retail investor darlings GameStop and AMC fell for a second straight session on Thursday, as the excitement over the social media return of "Roaring Kitty", who was the central figure in 2021 meme stock rally, fizzles out.

Vercel, a software startup that provides a platform for building cloud-based web applications, on Thursday said it has raised $250 million in a Series E funding round that values the company at $3.25 billion.

Newbury police warn of online ticket scam after Facebook hack

NEWBURY — The Newbury Police Department issued a scam alert to residents cautioning them about online purchases, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, following a report of a hacked account used to sell fraudulent Taylor Swift concert tickets.

Authorities were notified of the scam after a local’s Facebook account was compromised.

The hacker is allegedly attempting to sell tickets to the pop star’s concerts at significantly reduced prices across various online forums.

The police department stressed that if a deal appears excessively favorable, it likely isn’t genuine.

Consumers are urged to exercise due diligence and extensively verify both the seller’s credibility and the authenticity of the product before committing to any purchase.

The police also highlighted the importance of reporting any known hacked social media accounts to the respective platform to alert them of potential fraud.

Alongside the warning, the department shared a screenshot of the scam to inform and protect the community from falling victim to similar fraudulent activities.

As a reminder, the Newbury Police Department has taken steps to facilitate safer transactions for local residents by designating two parking spaces specifically for online purchase exchanges.

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is now barred from entering nearly 20% of her state, report says

• South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is barred from nearly 20% of her state, The Associated Press reported.
• It comes after her controversial remarks linking tribal leaders and drug cartels.
• The bans build on preexisting tensions stemming from Noem's anti-protest stance and COVID-19 clashes.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is now barred from entering nearly 20% of her state, The Associated Press reported.

The governor has now been barred from land belonging to the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribe, adding to her previous bans from the reservations of the Oglala, Rosebud, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock Sioux tribes, per the report.

The moves mean Noem will be refused entry to the reservations of six out of the state's nine Native American tribes .

It follows her controversial remarks linking drug cartels and tribal leaders.

"We've got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there, and that's why they attack me every day," Noem said at a forum, per the AP.

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"But I'm going to fight for the people who actually live in those situations, who call me and text me every day and say, 'Please, dear governor, please come help us in Pine Ridge. We are scared,'" she added.

Tribes have slammed Noem's comments, with Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out, saying: "How dare the Governor allege that Sioux Tribal Councils do not care about their communities or their children, and, worse, that they are involved in nefarious activities?" the AP previously reported.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe chairwoman Janet Alkire added: "Governor Kristi Noem's wild and irresponsible attempt to connect tribal leaders and parents with Mexican drug cartels is a sad reflection of her fear-based politics that do nothing to bring people together to solve problems."

Noem's strained relationship with the tribes predates her governorship, beginning with her support for antiprotest legislation following the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock in 2016.

Subsequent clashes over COVID-19 checkpoints exacerbated tensions between the governor and local tribes.

Noem recently came under fire for admitting that, a few decades ago, she killed her dog because it was untrainable and overly aggressive, in what many saw as a major publicity blow amid her campaign to be Donald Trump's running mate.

But six people close to the former president told Politico that Noem had been out of the running even before the revelation — although they did not rule her bid out entirely.

Trump seemingly stood by the governor amid the backlash, saying of Noem: "Somebody that I love. She's been with me, a supporter of mine and I've been a supporter of hers for a long time."

Watch: Nikki Haley can still beat Trump — here's how

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Ship that struck Baltimore bridge had blackouts day before crash, NTSB report finds

BALTIMORE -- The shipping vessel that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March experienced two power blackouts while docked, 10 hours before the collision that toppled part of a bridge span, according to a preliminary report released Tuesday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

In addition to two power losses while the ship was in port, there were two power failures in the moments leading up to the crash, causing the ship's main to shut down, according to the NTSB. The crew was unable to regain propulsion before it slammed into the bridge, the report said.

READ MORE: Demolition charges set off to free the cargo ship from the wreckage of Baltimore bridge

Federal investigators say fuel tests did not show irregularities and they are now focusing the probe on the ship's electrical system.

Blackouts before departure

The M/V Dali experienced two blackouts on March 25 while the Sri Lankan-based ship was undergoing maintenance at the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore Harbor, the report said.

A crew member mistakenly closed an inline engine exhaust damper for one of the vessel's four diesel generators, which blocked the engine's exhaust gases from exiting the vessel, according to the NTSB. That, in turn, caused the engine to stall and diesel generators to stop working, the report said.

When the Dali's systems detected the power loss, another generator started, according to the NTSB report.

READ MORE : Body of 6th Baltimore bridge collapse victim recovered, authorities say

Crews were able to get the first generator back online. However, a second blackout occurred when "insufficient fuel pressure caused [ the second generator's ] speed to decrease, and its breaker ... opened," causing another blackout, according to the NTSB.

After crews were able to re-open the exhaust damper for the first malfunctioning generator, it automatically restarted and power was restored, the report said.

Blackouts hit moments before the crash

The Dali slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge over Baltimore Harbor at 1:28 a.m. ET on March 26, causing part of a bridge span to collapse during the early morning hours of March 26 after it experienced two blackouts. The first blackout caused the Dali's engine to shut down and its propeller stopped, according to the report.

The report found that the Dali lost power twice the night of the incident as it made its way out of port.

The first power loss shut down the main engine, according to the NTSB. The crew was able to restore power, but then the ship lost power again moments later when it was approaching the bridge, according to the NTSB.

The crew was able to regain power again but unable to regain propulsion, the report said.

"The NTSB is still investigating the electrical configuration following the first in-port blackout and potential impacts on the events during the accident voyage," the report said.

There were no reported blackout incidents recorded when the Dali was docked at ports in Newark and Norfolk during its recent U.S. voyage, according to the NTSB.

Video of the incident showed the lights on the Dali going off and smoking coming from the ship before it crashed.

Recovery, investigation continue

Crews onboard were able to warn officials about the malfunction, giving them time to close off the bridge to oncoming traffic before the crash. However, six men, who were working on the bridge , were not able to get off and were killed.

The crash affected entry into the Port of Baltimore for weeks as the debris blocked entry for other ships.

The investigation and recovery efforts are ongoing. The final NTSB report with the cause of the incident could take up to two years to complete.

The Dali has remained stuck at the crash site but recovery teams made progress this week after they set off controlled explosions Monday to remove the section of the bridge that was attached to the boat.

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