If someone has taken control of your Facebook account through social engineering and is using it maliciously, follow these detailed steps to recover your account and minimize harm.

Step 1: Report Your Account as Compromised

1. Visit Facebook’s Hacked Account Tool:
   • Go to facebook.com/hacked.
   • Click on "My account is compromised" and follow the instructions.
2. Enter Your Login Information:
   • Provide your email address or phone number associated with the account.
   • If the hacker has changed your login credentials, use your old email address or username.
3. Verify Your Identity:
   • Facebook will ask you to confirm your identity. Be prepared to provide:
     • A government-issued ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license).
     • Information about your account, such as:
       • Previous passwords.
       • Names of trusted contacts.
       • Devices or locations you’ve used to access your account.

Step 2: Recover Your Account Access

1. Check for Recovery Emails:
   • Look in your email inbox (and spam folder) for messages from Facebook about changes to your account.
   • If you find an email about a password reset you didn’t initiate, use the "Secure your account" link provided in the email.
2. Reset Your Password:
   • Use the "Forgot Password?" option on Facebook's login page.
   • If the hacker changed the email address, Facebook allows you to enter your original email to start the recovery process.

Step 3: Contact Facebook Support

1. Report Unauthorized Content:
   • If you cannot log in but can still see your account, ask a trusted friend to report the fake posts or profile activity on your behalf:
     • Click on the three dots (...) on the fake posts or profile and select Report > Pretending to be Someone > Me.
2. Fill Out the Identity Verification Form:
   • Use Facebook’s Identity Confirmation Form.
   • Attach a photo of your government-issued ID to verify your ownership.

Step 4: Notify Friends and Family

1. Spread the Word:
   • Ask your friends to warn others about the scam activity from your account.
   • Post in community groups (if applicable) to alert others about fake items for sale.
2. Have Friends Report the Account:
   • Trusted contacts can go to your profile, click on the three dots (...), and report the account as compromised.

Step 5: Secure Your Other Accounts