‘Magnus’ Facebook Hacker Hoax

According to a message that is currently circulating on Facebook, you should not accept Magnus [surname removed] as a Facebook friend. 

The message claims that the person is an advanced technical hacker who will be able to access your bank accounts if you accept his friendship. It also claims that, if one of your friends accepts him, you will also be hacked.  The message is currently circulating in both Swedish and English.

However, the message is just a nonsensical hoax and its claims should not be taken seriously. It is just one more in a long, sorry line of very similar friend request hacker hoaxes.

These Hoaxes are NOT Harmless and Should NOT be Shared

Such hoaxes commonly use names that are shared by many individuals around the world. So, sharing these hoaxes unfairly damages the reputations of innocent people who have the same name as that of the supposed hacker. The innocent victims of these hoaxes may have to deal with ongoing harassment and bullying via social media.

Hacking Scenario Outlined is Not Feasible

The hacking scenario described in these messages is not a feasible one. Scammers use many tricks to fool people into compromising their accounts. They may trick you into installing malware that allows them to take control of your computer. Or they may launch a phishing attack designed to trick you into sending them personal information such as your account username and password.

But, even the most technically advanced hacker cannot take control of your computer or bank accounts just because you accept his or her friend request. For a hacking attempt to be successful, some sort of file transfer or exchange of information must take place.

Any message that claims that just accepting a friend request will somehow give hackers access to your computer should be dismissed as a hoax.

An example of the hoax message (Translated from Swedish):

Please notify everyone in your friend list not to accept magnus [surname removed] on Facebook. He’s an advanced technical hacker who can access your bank account if you accept friendship. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure all your friends know it. Thank you. Keep your finger on the message. At the bottom of the middle it will stand “forward”. press that button and then click all the names in your list and this message will be sent to them. Thank you and good luck!