Last week I shared gratitude for
@George Kao helping me to create an Instagram Ad. We put the ad in place with a limit of 6€.
The next day I started getting repeated messages to Facebook User. Warning me that my account would be closed.
Here's the wording
Dear,
We've reviewed your account and noticed some unusual activities that go against our Community Standards and Advertising Policies. As a result, we've decided to suspend your account for the next 30 days.
This suspension will take effect within 24 hours. If you think this is a mistake, click the button below to open a support ticket and let us know.
Open a support ticket as: https://meta-help-center.co.......
Please note that if we do not receive any feedback within 24 hours, the decision will be made by our team. Any advertising campaign may be canceled, and you will no longer get access to advertise again.
Thanks,
The Meta For Business Support Team
Normally I would ignore this, but I panicked a little, thinking that maybe, because I'd set up the ad via another computer (working with George) they were reasonably concerned. So I clicked a link!!!!! BIG MISTAKE!
Yesterday (Sunday) I woke up to 2 very scammy-looking emails (Anjos Colchões e Sofás requested access to your Ad Account #3222354079170509). I didn't respond to these.
These were followed by 8 separate emails, detailing payments via PayPal to Meta Platforms. Starting with 20€ and working up to 90€, all in the space of 2 hours. Then, thankfully, a further payment was declined by PayPal.
Total damage 312€.
I have contacted PayPal and am confident that they will refund me the money, but in the meantime Facebook is telling me that I owe them 283€ and my Ad account is blocked.
I've reported this to FB, have yet to receive any answer, and I'm not sure if I'm going to have to change my Business Account.
I am usually quite aware of dodgy looking links, this one got me, don't let the same thing happen to you!!
Any thoughts George or anybody? Especially with restoring my good standing in FB/IG.
Update - I just heard back from PayPal who are not recognizing this as an unauthorized payment - 'The payment in question was sent as part of a billing agreement you previously set up with the merchant.'
So they won't refund my money.
Oh wow, now to see if I can get any support from Facebook.
Second Update: HUGE thumbs up for PayPal - I talked to them today and they agreed to reimburse me the money (because of being a long-standing client) 😀 even though the problem is really with Facebook.
Thumbs DOWN for Facebook who are proving impossible to contact. 😞
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