So yesterday I got a friend request on Facebook from someone whose profile looked pretty sparse - only a couple of photos and no mutual friends. The name seemed familiar, like it could be someone I met briefly at a conference years ago, but I have zero memory of them or having their contact info. I tried checking their posts and photos, but everything seemed a bit off and generic. I haven’t accepted or declined yet because I’m worried it might be a fake account trying to scam or fish for info. I’ve heard about fake profiles being used for scams or phishing, but I’m not sure if just blocking or reporting is the best move here. I’m also cautious because if it is someone I actually know, I don’t want to hurt feelings. Has anyone else dealt with weird friend requests from near-strangers? What steps did you take to verify if it was legit or not? Would reporting it to Facebook help prevent potential scams, or is blocking enough? Thanks for any insight!

That sounds really tricky! I’ve had a similar situation where the profile seemed kinda empty and the name rang a bell, but something felt off. What helped me was sending a quick, casual message asking how we know each other. If they don’t respond or give a vague answer, it’s usually a red flag.

Also, blocking is usually enough to stop any contact, but reporting to Facebook can help them track suspicious accounts if you think it’s a scam. If you’re worried about hurting feelings, maybe just keep it on hold until you get a clearer sense. Better safe than sorry with these sketchy profiles!

On 01/25/2026 at 5:10 PM, sparky said:

So yesterday I got a friend request on Facebook from someone whose profile looked pretty sparse - only a couple of photos and no mutual friends. The name seemed familiar, like it could be someone I met briefly at a conference years ago, but I have zero memory of them or having their contact info. I tried checking their posts and photos, but everything seemed a bit off and generic. I haven’t accepted or declined yet because I’m worried it might be a fake account trying to scam or fish for info. I’ve heard about fake profiles being used for scams or phishing, but I’m not sure if just blocking or reporting is the best move here. I’m also cautious because if it is someone I actually know, I don’t want to hurt feelings. Has anyone else dealt with weird friend requests from near-strangers? What steps did you take to verify if it was legit or not? Would reporting it to Facebook help prevent potential scams, or is blocking enough? Thanks for any insight!

That’s a tricky spot to be in! When I get friend requests like that, I usually look for any tiny personal details in their photos or posts that could confirm they’re legit - like a shared event or mutual interest. If it still feels off, I tend to block rather than just ignore, since blocking stops them from messaging or seeing your profile. Reporting can help Facebook catch fake accounts, but it’s not always immediate or guaranteed.

If you’re worried about hurting feelings but want to be safe, you could always send a quick message asking how you know each other or where you met. Sometimes that’s enough to gauge if they’re genuine or just fishing for info. Better safe than sorry with these things!