Will the real Facebook Friend please stand up!

— Some of you may be familiar with “To Tell the Truth,” a TV game show where a panel of celebrities are introduced to three individuals claiming to be the same person. They question the three to figure out who is the “real deal” and who the impostors are. Then the moment of truth comes when the host calls for the real person to stand up. 

When going online, we’re faced with the same dilemma as the panelists, but there’s no wise, knowing host there to ask the real so-and-so to stand up and a wrong choice could be harmful. 

Checking notifications on Facebook, I noticed a familiar friend request. But didn’t I already “friend” this person? Did I forget? Maybe this individual deactivated his or her account, but should I make that assumption? 

Before accepting a friend request, do you check to see if this person is on your friends list? You should. You’ve probably figured out how easy it is for someone else to copy your photos and personal information. The best of us have felt violated when we saw a bogus account set up with our photo on it. It’s happened to me before. Some of us might readily figure out the faker because his or her posts are out of character with whom you know them to be. 

We might also be getting messages from our faux friend on Messenger urging us to click on a link, which is more dangerous still, considering the risk of launching malware on your computer or device. 

Facebook doesn’t have some foolproof algorithm for spotting phonies — at least not yet. 

If you haven’t done so in a while or never have, go into your privacy settings on the top right hand corner of your personal page to check on what info you’re giving out to others and think twice before posting. That clever post or share might be best shared with a few trusted friends rather than The whole of Facebook Land. 

What if I already accepted the request? 

If you accept a bogus friend request, there are a few things you should do. First of all, contact your friend via some means other than Facebook if possible, like an email, text or, if you follow them on other social media, try messaging through that platform. Report the erroneous profile to Facebook. It’s often helpful and more effective when Facebook receives multiple reports of a phony account. Also, whether or not my account was compromised, I like to change my login information every now and then. Also pay attention to notifications sent via your email. Never click on an emailed link though; go directly onto Facebook instead. 

Doing your diligence in following up on a fraud is just good sense, because the stakes are much higher for you than for someone who loses on a game show.

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