My advice:

If it seems strange right off the bat it probably is.

There are often very simple ways to determine if the other person is who they say they are. Think of a few and casually use them.  Identify something that both parties would have no problem acknowledging within moments of posing the question.  Find another method of communication they should obviously have access to and have them contact you that way, eg. private email outside of Facebook or a phone call.

As you can see from the transcript below it was pretty easy for me to tell this guys was a dolt and definitely not Rick. Interestingly, both myself and the person in the example on Facebook’s post attempted to make direct voice contact with the person. Makes sense.. right???

And report the abuse.. I emailed Rick immediately including the chat logs and called him first thing in the morning. He, of course, was not in London and was unaware that anyone had gained access to his account. He reported it to Facebook who according to Rick were very helpful and followed through right away.

This doesn’t include the last 10 or 20 minutes of our entertaining chat unfortunately because I really did have fun with the person. I was amazed at how long they kept it up. They kept it up for almost an hour.  Some parts that they almost got right.. When I asked what public library they were chatting from they gave me the name of a real library. Where they failed.. after a quick web search I was able to find the phone number, a map of the surrounding area and operating hours of the place then after determining the difference between my time zone and London’s…. the library wasn’t even open.. Comments like ” seriously,  I’m sure they’ll let you use the phone..” “I’m ringing the desk now..” “I would love to send you the money…” and other very helpful words in which I was obviously calling them out on their game they still kept it up..

That was until my final comment (which makes me wish I could actually  access chat logs from Facebook chat (come on Facebook!) … which was along the lines of “I find this very entertaining.. I could keep this up all night.” .. after that comment the chat went dead.

The following happened in June of 2009

11:37pm Rick
Hey Aaron

11:37pm Aaron
heya!
how’s it going?

11:39pm Rick
Not too good
Am in a deep shit right now
Am in a deep shit right now

11:39pm Aaron
how come?

11:39pm Rick
I Was mugged at gun point in london lastnight
Those muggers took everything on me

11:39pm Aaron
what?? that’s just terrible.

11:39pm Rick
My wallet bank card and cellphone

11:40pm Aaron
crap. that sucks. you’re alright though?
no physical injuries?

11:40pm Rick
Not at all

11:40pm Aaron
good.
are you there on business?

11:40pm Rick
Am stuck here at the moment and i need help with flying back home

11:42pm Rick
I Need your help

11:42pm Aaron
what sort of help can I be?

11:42pm Rick
I Want you to help me with my flight ticket back home

11:44pm Rick
i have a flight that leaves in two hours later in the day
I Need $850 to complete my flight ticket back home
Loan me the money i would refund it back to you as soon as am back home

11:45pm Aaron
seems like a strange request there rick. why don’t i stop by your house tomorrow and see what I can do.

11:46pm Rick
i have a flight to catch up with in three hours time

11:46pm Aaron
by the way. do you remember the person I served on the board of directors with? I just can’t remember his name.

11:47pm Rick
Why are you being paranoid Aaron
i know you are teasing me right now

11:48pm Aaron
you’d answer the question pretty straight forwardly.

11:50pm Rick
but you know am freaked out right now
am stunned at you man

11:51pm Aaron
so stunned you really don’t sound like rick at all.
especially asking for money. and not able to answer a quick simple question over the internet.
so .. like.. rick.. i have love for.. this.. seems very strange to be rick.
so i’m skeptical.

11:52pm Rick
All i care about is leaving this place right now

11:52pm Aaron
i’m sure.

11:52pm Rick
Aaron hold on
Let me explain somethings to you
If you eventually wire money to me you know you would do that to my name
if am not rick ****** you have to know that no other person can pick money up on my identity
Its not possible
Cos i have to pick the money up with my own international passport
My identity
So i would be pretty sure if you are ready to help me with my explanation to you right now
are you there

11:58pm Aaron
rick knows how to spell pretty well.

11:58pm Rick
am freaked out here man
am in a public library

11:59pm Aaron
you said that. you also are not rick. send me an email from your private email address since you obviously have an internet connection.
Today

12:00am Rick
i said if am not rick i won’t be able to pick money up if you wire it to me
without rick identity

12:01am Aaron
so you should just log out now and leave this account alone. I have alerted those who should now be able to trace your network connection. i’ll send the london police. i’m sure they’ll help you track down some help.

12:02am Aaron
I’ll call you in the morning Rick.