WARNING: Fake Facebook groups cropping up everywhere! (2026)

[Wayfinder]

What I just posted in John's Facebook group for Oliver Owners.  This does not require a lot of discussion.

WARNING: Fake Facebook groups cropping up everywhere!

Folks, we have a growing disturbing problem with Facebook (FB) groups, especially, because you are reading this, in regards to owning an Oliver. You may have noticed at least one or two new Oliver-related FB groups crop up lately.  From the very first picture posted, from the Oliver group that has the word "Community" in it, there are suspicious postings & members.  Now the more legit people who join these fake groups will make the group look more and more legit itself.  Our information is being collected, I promise you.  I'm not usually an overly suspicious person, but as an active Information Technology (IT) guy who also supports cyber security, I'm seeing more obvious signs of trouble.  Even a dumb monkey like me can start to see the issues.

Now, I just left that "Oliver Community" group just last night after I had seen enough AI generated material and started to smell bad actors.

You can ask any AI out there this question and read for yourself why and how and why this is happening.  Just ask it something like this:

Are there fake facebook groups being created to collect information on us?

I usually have not cared about what is collected on me, as big American businesses are notorious about collecting info.  These fake groups are not maintained by American businesses, I promise you that.

I have no stake, nor real loyalty, to this group we are in right now.  I am not an admin, and frankly, I was once kicked out of the group for a misunderstanding on my part.  I was later asked to rejoin due to my loyalty to the OTT owners in general. That's it. 

I'm sure this will be received like politics. We will be split down the middle 50/50 or at least split 33/33/33.  

Just be VERY safe out there in this mucky world of social media we have created.

This group is managed by real good people.  We may not always understand why they do what they do, but that is because you are not trying to keep bad actors out of a private group.  It's a fulltime job these days.  Some forums of the world have to block entire countries due to the issues developing now.

Be safe and "you do you", but you've been warned.

[FloraFauna]

29 minutes ago, Wayfinder said:

Be safe and "you do you", but you've been warned.

"Me do me" means no Facebook whatsoever - problem solved.  I just don't see eye-to-eye with Mr. Zuckerberg's vision.  There are other ways to communicate with your friends.  Thanks for the heads up and continuing to help me affirm my decision.

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, FloraFauna said:

"Me do me" means no Facebook whatsoever - problem solved.  I just don't see eye-to-eye with Mr. Zuckerberg's vision.  There are other ways to communicate with your friends.  Thanks for the heads up and continuing to help me affirm my decision.

It appears we see eye-to-eye on several things! I never created a FB account and once FB became another Fake News outlet, Chris deleted all her content and pics, closed her account. Sorry Oliver Owners on FB, but this is the real OTT Forum! 🤣

We also recently agreed on the need, or lack thereof, for an articulating hitch. And I think the tow vehicles for hulls #113 and #1394 are the only two that carry an extra 35-gal FWT and we both never leave home without two full FWTs! 😎

Chris and I were born and raised in Chicagoland, so "Escape to Wisconsin" was something we did often, all the way up to 1999 when we left the city. Out first trip together was to visit Lake Oshkosh in '92! I say this because we're not likely to tow our Oliver back to your neck of the woods. But when it's time for you to get out of winter weather and travel SW, we would love to meet you! 😂 Best wishes, JD

[Mike and Carol]

We opened a FB account years ago because our kids were on it.  They do very little on FB these days and we rarely open it.  We never posted pics or personal information.  I have a niece that has put her entire life on FB, not good.  Mike