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A brand was helping me connect them to my Facebook business manager so that I could run a campaign for them as an influencer. I couldn't understand how to connect them properly so we did a Zoom and they walked me through while I shared my screen. Shortly after, I was removed from my business manager and now have lost access to all of my pages and ad accounts! And I can't get hold of them now. Was it them? How did they get in?
Yes; unfortunately a screen share like they had you do CAN be enough to let the bad guys into your account. And yes, these were scammers.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen an entrepreneur fall for this trap, and it’s a very easy one to fall for. It’s exciting when an agency reaches out to you to do an “influencer” type of deal, and in a lot of cases this seems legit (and can be). In other cases though, we’ve seen people get scammed. That same excitement can make the best of us forget to question things we may have otherwise.
Holding a screenshare session isn’t uncommon; even we do it for clients to help them through complicated technical stuff.
While it seems like you’re okay as long as you aren’t giving them your login information (which you should NEVER do) … there are other ways they can access. And often, they make it feel so complicated with the instructions they provide (or they give the WRONG instructions) that you need their help … which is where the screenshare Zoom session comes in.
When you’re logged into Meta, your browser holds a code in its memory (called a session token) that keeps you logged in.
If that code appeared in your URL address bar (which it often does) or browser tools (which it can) during screen share, the scammer could see it, copy it, paste it into their own browser, and access your account instantly.
They may have said “Click Inspect” or “Check the Network tab.”
Those areas expose technical details, including your login token. If visible, they could steal it without you ever realizing.
Less common since the other two ways are much easier, while you clicked through Meta Business Suite:
This info helps them impersonate you, submit fake access requests, or target other admins.
They may have directed you to click things that triggered a role confirmation or asset share—without making it obvious what was happening.
If your browser auto-filled a password during the screen share, they saw it and could use it before you had time to change it.
You’ll have access to human support through the in-app chat.
Open your Facebook app, go to your account settings > Meta Verified, and use the support channel to report unauthorized access.
This is the fastest way to escalate.
Use the official recovery forms:
https://www.facebook.com/hacked (choose the “Someone else got into my account” option)
If your personal account is still accessible, check:
Business Settings > People and Partners – remove anyone suspicious
Security & Login Settings – log out of other sessions and update your password
Emails from Facebook – look for any recent changes you didn’t authorize and use the “secure your account” link if available. However, if they also made it into your personal account, they may have also changed the email and password.
Log out of Meta before any screen share
Even if the call seems legit, close any tabs where you’re logged into Meta, Facebook, Instagram, or your business manager.
Turn off autofill for sensitive accounts
Your browser’s saved passwords can betray you the moment they fill in during a screen share. Disable autofill or use a password manager that requires manual unlock.
Avoid opening Developer Tools unless you know why
If someone tells you to click “Inspect” or open technical browser tabs during a call, pause. There is no legitimate reason an agency deal needs that. (We NEVER need that, not for Facebook).
Ask for verification before doing business with anyone new
Look up the agency, cross-reference email addresses, and if anything feels rushed or overly complex, trust your gut.
Never stay logged in during screen shares involving your browser
If it’s open, assume they can see more than you think.
Never click or confirm things you don’t fully understand
If someone is walking you through complex steps and you’re unsure what it’s doing—stop. Real professionals won’t rush you or keep it vague.
Never ignore weird behavior just because they “seem professional”
Scammers are good at looking legit. If it feels even slightly off, trust your gut.
Reach out now to Facebook if you have not and try to recover your account. Good luck!
Vicky
Our CEO Vicky Wu brings her 30 years of experience marketing for Fortune 500 companies, multi-million and multi-billion-dollar global corporations to answer your specific marketing questions. Most entrepreneurs aren’t able to find – or afford – access to this level of expertise. And that’s exactly why we’re bringing it to you.
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