Facebook help please

ermintrude1

Hope someone knows how it works, 'cos I don't.

Today my OH received an email from FB saying his email was not recognised and they had auto updated it to his current address.

Now, at least 3 or 4 years ago he went on FB as a friend of someone, exhanged some chat and hasn't been there since.

In the meantime, he has changed email accounts and address plus the old provider no longer exists.

So firstly, Should he be concerned about his privacy, and how did FB get his new address?

Secondly how can he close/delete the account and remove his address from the system when he has no recollection of passwords etc?

I can only find the change settings/details which all requires a password. No customer service or contact link.

Any help appreciated, thanks.

russell_e

It's possibly a phishing email.

You can't delete the account fully, Facebook stores all your details, photos etc! if he doesn't use it, just ignore it.

ermintrude1

Hi, i don't think this is phishing as I was able to get straight into the account via the email link.

russell_e

It could be from someone trying to find friends with their email account & possibly had his old & new addresses both in.

Why FB decided to update his email address is beyond me & a bit big brother if you ask me!

ermintrude1

Well, yes, my thoughts exactly. Whatever he may have agreed to when he signed up, I'd like to bet that did not include allowing them to data trawl and update without consent.

russell_e

There have been some big privacy issues with FB!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Facebook

-TangleFoot-

ermintrude1 wrote: »

Hi, i don't think this is phishing as I was able to get straight into the account via the email link.

Could've been a redirect; I strongly suggest you change your password immediately just in case.

ermintrude1

Wow!

I'll give him a good checking over - in case they managed to insert a tag!? Not funny.

I hope people realise the implications of these 'social sites' - I've always been a bit wary and couldn't see the point, I can email or telephone friends, but I believe those private avenues of communication are fair game after the home secretary authorised tech capibilities to snoop on everyone.

ermintrude1

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Could've been a redirect; I strongly suggest you change your password immediately just in case.

Unfortunately he doesn't know the p/word and can't change anything. FB now appear to be in charge of data and info updates on the account. They could put anything they liked on there and there's apparently no way to stop it.

ermintrude1

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2157150/Google-Apple-use-planes-film-sunbathing-garden.html

VoucherMan

ermintrude1 wrote: »

I hope people realise the implications of these 'social sites'

I think many either don't know and/or don't care.

The information some give out to total strangers is amazing.

Been selling some stuff recently on a Facebook buy & sell page. Had a look at the profile of one of the people who bought something. Although they had only listed their home-town they had pinpointed their house with the map feature.

So I had his name, address, D.O.B, where he was from, and if I viewed his 'timeline' would no doubt have been able to retrieve much more information often used in security checks and financial application forms.