- According to the WSJ, Meta fired dozens workers after they accused them of accessing users’ accounts without authorization.
- The people fired are alleged to have used “Oops,” an internal tool to gain access to Facebook accounts.
- Some of those fired workers denied the allegations on the grounds of coercion or lack of awareness.
Meta fired dozens upon a charge that they used an internal tool to get access to Facebook user accounts. Some of the activity was done in return for bribes. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Thursday.
Some of the employees who were fired were contract security guards working at Meta’s facilities. They reportedly used an internal Facebook tool called “Oops” that allows users to reset their passwords, email addresses or gain access to their accounts.
Employees are only to use Oops — short for Online Operations — on a case-by-case basis to help friends, family, businesses partners, and public figures recover their Facebook accounts by filling out a form.
However, tasks handled by Oops jumped to more than 50,0000 in 2020 from 28,270 tasks in 2017 to 50, 270 — a 56% uptick in usage,which raised eyebrows among Meta executives, according to an internal document the Journal reviewed.
Meta executives discovered that certain employees were using Oops to access accounts without authorization. This was in return for tens or thousands of dollars.
Reva Mandelowitz (a Meta’s security contractor Allied Universal security guard) was the one who was fired. The Journal reported that Reva had allegedly been paid thousands of dollars in bitcoin by the company for resetting a few hacker accounts.
In an interview, she told the Journal that the accusations were false. She stated that she requested 20 account resets to her loved ones, and was forced by an unknown individual to request more.
In July 2021, Meta fired Kendel Melbourne, another Allied Universal contractor on accusations of fraud after he allegedly helped third-parties take control of Instagram accounts while he was at the company and even after he left.
Mandelowitz denied these claims, saying he wasn’t told how he is supposed use the Oops system.
A spokesperson from Allied Universal said to the Journal, “We take seriously any reports that violate our standards of conduct.”
Insider spoke with Andy Stone, a Meta spokesperson. Stone stated that hackers target online platforms like Meta every day and that “people should never buy, sell, or pay an account recovery service.” This is because it violates our Terms.
Stone stated that Meta employees who access Oops are warned that they need to be aware of phishing scams. They should also not interact with strangers who try to access their accounts.
He stated that Meta keeps their security up-to-date and will continue to pursue those who are involved in such schemes.
Reports of firings came at a time when Meta lay off 11,000 employeesTo reduce costs, you can use the entire company.
