Second Friend Request on Facebook? Here’s Why You Should Never Accept It

Ever Get a Second Friend Request on Facebook? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Accept It and What to Do Instead
I’m usually writing about dental cybersecurity training, but this Facebook account spoofing thing is really ramping up. It can have enormous consequences. Please read and share with your family and friends who use Facebook.
Have you ever received a second friend request from someone you’re already connected with on Facebook? Maybe it seemed odd, but you thought, “What’s the harm in accepting it?” If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, these duplicate friend requests are often a sign of cybercriminals trying to spoof someone’s profile—and it can lead to serious consequences for you and your real friends if you’re not careful.
Why Cybercriminals Do This
Cybercriminals create duplicate Facebook profiles to impersonate someone you know. Once you accept their friend request, they gain access to your posts, friends list, and potentially sensitive information. They can then send malicious links, request money, or even phish for your private details. By pretending to be someone you trust, these fake accounts are more likely to deceive you—and anyone else they contact.
What’s the Danger?
- Access to personal information: Cybercriminals can view your posts, photos, and other personal information that you might only share with friends.
- Scams: They can send messages asking for money, pretending they’re in trouble, or asking you to click on a harmful link.
- Identity theft: The more information they gather, the easier it becomes for them to steal your identity or your friend’s.
- Spreading malware: Sometimes the fake accounts will share malicious links, infecting your device with malware if you click on them.

Be a Good Digital Citizen: Help Stop Spoofing
Being a responsible internet user means not just protecting yourself, but also helping to keep others safe online. By reporting these fake profiles, you can stop them before they spread further harm. Cybersecurity isn’t just about securing your own accounts; it’s about working together to create a safer online community.
Here’s how you can help shut down these spoofed profiles:
Steps to Report a Fake Facebook Profile
- Open the friend request: When you receive the second friend request, don’t accept it. Instead, click on the profile of the account that sent it.
- Access their profile: Once on their profile page, click the three dots (•••) located near the “Message” button.
- Report the profile: From the dropdown menu, choose “Find support or report profile.”
- Select the reason: When prompted, choose “Pretending to Be Someone” as the reason for the report.
- Identify the impersonated person: Select “A Friend” and follow the steps to identify the real person being impersonated.
- Submit the report: Send it to Facebook for review.
It’s a simple action that can protect not only you but others from falling victim to a potential scam.
Why Reporting Matters
When you report a profile that’s trying to impersonate someone, you’re contributing to the overall security of the online space. The more people report, the quicker Facebook can take action to remove these accounts and prevent harm to other users. Good digital citizenship means recognizing these threats and acting responsibly to stop them.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to dismiss a second friend request as harmless, but in today’s digital age, it’s important to stay cautious. Don’t accept these requests, and make it a habit to report any suspicious profiles. Together, we can work towards a safer, more secure online community.
Stay vigilant, protect your digital life, and remember: being a good neighbor online means looking out for everyone’s safety, not just your own!
If you’re in the dental profession in Canada and you haven’t yet taken the Cybersecurity Essentials Security Awareness Training, you can get it here: https://myla.training/cybersecurity-awareness-training-for-dental-practices/
