UPDATE: Over the last 24 hours my page was taken over by hackers, and I was shut out as the page administrator unable to do anything to stop them. This amazing community came to aid and my defense in a way that I will never forget. Thank you for knowing my heart would never willingly allow this to happen and post the horrific things that were seen here. Thank you for reporting the images to Facebook and for sharing my blog post asking for help to get my page back. This community, as well as many fellow bloggers and personal friends stepped up to show these sabotagers that GOODNESS prevails. While I hope that my administrator status is back for good, please know that if you see anything out of the ordinary from what I normally post, please report the vile content see the steps outlined at the bottom of this post.
I hope to get back to my regular schedule of positivity and hope tomorrow on The Hands Free Revolution FB page. You are the most wonderful community and I am blessed to walk the Hands Free journey with you. Let us continue to focus on the good.
“I’ve always believed the light can outshine the darkness.
I’ve always believed that goodness will prevail.
But sometimes in the face of adversity, a need a little reminding.
Thank you for reminding me.
I shall not ever forget.”
-Rachel Macy Stafford
**************************************
Original post:
My friends, I have been locked out as administrator of The Hands Free Revolution Facebook page. The hackers have been posting vile and offensive material. I am deeply sorry if you have been subjected to this in your newsfeed on Facebook. You can help me GREATLY by doing one or both of the following to report the problem:
1. Click this link and report that The Hands Free Revolution page has been hacked.
2. Go to the page and hover over the top right corner of the offensive post for the drop down carrot to show
then click on “I don't like this post”
A pop up will come up – click on: “It's Spam”
On the next window click on: “Their account is hacked”
That will report it.
I am so grateful to all of you who have written to me personally to let me know about the situation. Thank you for standing by me as I try to regain control of my Facebook fan page so I can continue spreading messages of positivity and hope!
How awful! I just reported each post and the page as being hacked. How sad the lengths people will go to for nastiness. Hopefully it will be resolved soon and you can continue with your positive, beautiful messages to the world which we so much need and appreciate.
So… you haven’t changed to positivity, hope, and BOOBIES?
Good luck! I’ve reported the posts and hope you get your account back quickly!
I just reported it and this is the message that popped up…”Thanks for your feedback. We aren’t responding to each email we receive through this channel, but we may reach out to you for more info as we work on improving this experience.”
I think they may have changed the page name as well – by adding 2 extra letters onto the end. This may be a ploy to slow down reports to Faebook. It is now https://facebook.com/TheHandsFreeRevolutionnn
Yes, Sharon. Thank you. My publisher, HarperCollins, is trying to get in touch with their Facebook contact. I let them know. Thank you so much! I appreciate everyone’s help and support!!!
Rachel…. I went on Facebook, and on the search bar searched “Hands Free Revolution employees” ….. there are two men there, one in Pakistan, and one in Ecuador I think. Anyway, I don’t think either are your employees!!! Could they be the ones that did this????
Yes, they are the ones! I am back in control and I deleted them as administrators. I had an angel named Tom at FB headquarters who fixed everything. Not to mention this community was a force to be reckoned with! You all are WONDERFUL!!!!!!
Hi Rachel! I’m so very sorry you’re having to deal with this. I’d like to make a suggestion to add the following instructions for reporting via phone, as reporting within the fb app isn’t working for me, and my instructions in comments on the posts earned me a ban from your page as well as the deletion of the instructions.
Truly hope FB sorts this out soon for you!
Cheers,
Claire
For those on phones: if reporting isn’t working, open fb in a browser, go into comments & tap the arrow at top right of post, select Report This Post, then It’s Spam, then Their Account is Hacked, and finally Done (top right)
so sorry! A good reminder of how vulnerable all our sites are and I will definiately do as you requested.
I never comment, but I read often and enjoy your posts. I’m not a mother yet, but I’m a runner and an endurance lover and I appreciate your insights and thoughtful posts.
Oh Rachel I’m so sorry. What a nightmare 🙁 I’m reporting every single offensive post. Hopefully Facebook will respond soon.
I love your FB page and blog. I’m reporting all of the posts as SPAM for you.
I was reporting each post as spam and hacked until I went to bed last night, and commented for others to do the same until they blocked me! I will definitely share this post and continue the fight today! I hope this gets resolved soon for you. Honestly I find it so frustrating that Facebook hasn’t already taken care of it, this is such an obvious hack!
Such a bummer! I really thought they would have gotten it figured out by now. Lots of us have been reporting since last night. The hackers have been banning anyone posting instructions on how to report the posts and deleting the instructions, but you’ve got warriors out there creating new accounts just to get the word out! Facebook deleted an entire batch of spam posts since last night that we all reported, but obviously didn’t fix the problem since they are still posting more. Hang in there, you’ve got support out there!
So very sorry that you are dealing with this! I have been reporting everything. Facebook has really messed up on this on. Shared your situations with some of my large blogging groups. Praying this is resolved soon!!
I reported the posts multiple times. Every time FB wrote back that these posts “did not violate community standards”. So sad. Not sure how to move from there. Sorry.
Don’t know if this makes a difference or helps, but they have changed your Facebook url to have 3 n’s at the end …
I posted as many links to this as I could and they now blocked me from the page. 🙁 I hope you get access back quickly. So sorry you have to go through this! But I must say, while attempting to fight this hacker, I couldn’t help but think: somehow she’s going to create something amazing from this awful experience 🙂
hang in there
Good luck, we’re all standing behind you and will be right here when this is sorted out.
So sorry this is happening Rachel. Idid all of the above. I hope they get this fixed soon. I love following your posts. Thank you for all you do. ~Nelle
I’m so sorry that your account has been hacked! I can’t, for the life of me, understand why someone would feel the need to do this. I have gone through and reported about 20 posts. I really hope this helps and that get back up and running soon. 🙂
I am going to share this blog post with my friends just in case. That way, I won’t be posting a comment on the page and then risk getting hacked.
Hi,
I reported them as spam as well and then started reporting them as porn but I got the same reply as “L Kyle”. I un-liked the page for now but definitely haven’t un-linked you! I check in frequently to see if it resolved. I will be back as a follower as soon as FB gets this under control.
I love your site and love your posts! You continue to inspire me everyday.
I tried to report the post but on my iphone5s to help you out but it doesn’t give me the option to say I don’t like. It only says “copy link”. Just thought I would let you know. This is horrible and I hope you get it taken care of soon. I enjoy your posts, they help me always 🙂
Did this last night! Knew it wasn’t you!
Have you tried recovering your password? It’s possible they’ve not changed the email or phone number on the account yet.
Rachel, I stayed in FB late into the night reporting all of the vile posts and posting a comment to others about your page being hacked. But then they deleted my comments and blocked me. Grrr! Hopefully you’ll get your page back soon and be able to unblock all of your followers who were making some noise. LOL
Hi Rachel,
So sorry that you are having to deal with this situation. I reported the posts as directed by a very kind reader. I am surprised that anyone would do this. I guess that makes me naive in today’s hacking climate. That being said, like Angie, I know that this represents a unique opportunity from which valuable insight can be gained if we slow down long enough to truly look. Hang in there.
Have you wrote into The Huffington Post about this!? They need cover this, and the fact that Facebook isn’t doing their job.
Yes!!! She needs to do this!!
Rachel,
I KNOW that you and all that you are about will come out of this aok…MORE than ok! A community is behind you, you have “people.” What a nightmare, friend. You’ll come out of this with a story and inspiration, you’ll come out of this with a deeper YES! You keep letting everyone know what you need and folks will make it happen. Blessings, Lisa
Definitely not what I expected to see from your page….but I have reported the “hack” to Facebook. I hope you get control of your account again soon. Will keep checking back here to see when you are back in control. Love your page & your messages….thank you for the constant reminders that all is not lost…..
I did the above. So sad people do things like this. Will you please let us know when this has been resolved so I can relike?
Dear Rachel,
my sincere wishes that you will get your page back! I have reported them all as spam, so far 41 posts… :-(( and will do my best to keep reporting them. I have to un-liked the page for now but as soon as it is resolved I will like it and be your follower again. Sending you positive energy…
Your book has been in my “to read” list for awhile so to offset the negativity I went and bought a copy – full price, I might add (haha!) at a local book store! Take that hackers!
Love it!!!
Oh and I have been reporting your page too! Hope it resolves soon!
I have continued to report every post. This is ridiculous that Facebook hasn’t taken care of this yet, with so many reporting! They seem to post every ten minutes on the dot so I just keep coming back every once in awhile and reporting anything new. I will continue until this is resolved! The posts seem to be getting progressively more disgusting too. I really hope you don’t permanently lose to many followers over this!
That’s so awful. What a shame there is such yuckiness in the world. I am happy to do my small part against it and I hope Facebook resolves this issue soon.
Just remember, out of this will come some amazing epiphany and an even better piece of writing. Think of it as fuel for hands free mama growth and learning. Anyone who has ever REALLY read your stuff knows how mortified and distressed you would be over all of this, so hang in there, it’s just a moment in time.
Thank you for this lovely message. It is so true. It’s going to become a great post — after I get some sleep and some food after 24 hours of being worried sick!
Que triste ver esto. Soy joven no soy padre y soy soltero y los contenidos originales de ésta página me parecen muy edificantes. Esperemos que se recupere pronto la página. Blessings from Guatemala.
I’ve reported it as spam and being hacked but I also had to unfollow it. Please let us know when it is fixed so that I can follow again.
It is fixed!!! You can come back!!! THANK YOU for believing in me!
Dearest Rachel,
So sorry this has happened to you. Hoping and praying it is resolved quickly! Hugs!
Thank you so much. This community has been so amazing through this ordeal.
So terribly sorry this is happening to you. ..been reporting heaps of the posts but nothing happening as yet. Now I’ve been locked out from commenting.
Just wanted to let you know I know someone who works at FB. He checked it out, and most reports have been being reported as “content violating standards” instead of that your site was hacked, which is what has been causing the delay. It is now being taken care of. So sorry that this happened to you, as your site is one of my favorite reads.
Thank you so much, Catherine. I knew this community would come to my rescue. I am SOOOO grateful!!!!
Been reporting all FB posts as page hacked, but now been banned from site for posting link explaining hacking so can no longer post or report.
Whole thing becoming a joke from FB 🙁
I will unban you, Leigh! I am back in control thanks to my hero at FB named Tom who got me back on my page!
I reported everything last night. And today. I commented with the link to this blog. Until the hackers blocked me. I’m so sorry this is happening. What a mess.
So sorry this has happened Rachel. You can see you have so much support – we are all behind you in helping to get this sorted out. I have reported all the posts as spam and that your account has been hacked. Here’s hoping there’s more action on this from the powers that be at FB once the working week starts. Hugs.
Wondered what the hell was going on with your Facebook page, couldn’t believe you would be posting such disgusting crap. Have unliked your page until this gets sorted
I am back in control, Rachele. I would love you to come back!
I did repot quite a few posts. But today my news feed was full of very suggestive material. I have young boys who often looks at my FB page as they get to the games they like to play. I’m sorry but I had to unlike your page.
Please post again here when it revolves and the page is your again. I will like the page once again.
I am so sorry, Cass! I am now back in control and got rid of all that horrible material! You can come back now! THANK YOU for believing in me.
As of 6:23 p.m. EST it looks like the spam is gone for now. I hope you have control back of your page soon!
I’ve been reporting them since the first post yesterday and was actually blocked from commenting after I started telling others to report as well. I hope you are able to regain control soon, I love all your posts and am so terribly sorry that this has happened to you.
I thank you for all that you did and will unban you!
Thank you so much!
Hurrah! So glad to see you back!! I got banned many times (my main account + accts I created to continue posting the link) for posting the link to this post 😉
On that subject, just a friendly reminder that you have many, many new names in your Blocked list now, we can’t comment or like posts on your page… 🙁
Again, so happy, and congrats. I can only imagine how frustrating this must have been for you.
Cheers,
Claire (main fb profile included as website)
I will fix! You are so wonderful to help me as you did!
I am so sorry this happened to you – or anyone for that matter. Glad you’re back in control! I enjoy your positive and encouraging messages each day and they have made a huge difference in our lives. I reported each posting as spam, that you had been hacked and also sent a message about the specifics and Facebook’s ineptness in solving the problem in a timely manner. Early in the 24 hours I commented on one of the posts and was subsequently blocked from your page. There were a lot of other people blocked as well. I am still blocked and unable to comment on your posts. Could you find the time to unblock me and others who may have been blocked for speaking out during this time? My name on FB is Christie Wilson Harvey. Thanks!
You are wonderful! THANK YOU FOR defending me. I unbanned about 100 people, but need to do more. It’s on my list!!!
So sorry this had happened. Are you aware that your twitter account has been hacked as well? At least it was as of Saturday night. I stopped following until you gain control again.
Thank you! My Twitter was hooked to post anything I posted on FB so I undid that very quickly!
I hope this is getting fixed I just went over to go do all these things and it says “Page Not Found”
https://www.facebook.com/TheHandsFreeRevolutionnn
Good luck! Hope it is a quick fix… What jerks!
I am so glad to see you’ve got control of your FB page again now!
I know you’ll be busy for awhile getting things back to the way they’re supposed to be – I’m an admin myself on a couple much smaller FB boards, and I’ve no idea how to do it, BUT — I think quite a few of us who sprang into action posting information about how to report the hacking (on all those terrible links being posted) were banned by the hacker(s). We can see and read your board, but can’t “like” or comment on anything (nor message you there or write on the wall). 🙁 There ought to be some way to unblock all of us en masse – but I don’t know what it is, and I suspect we’re all mixed up with people you may have rightfully banned for poor behavior too.
I went through and unbanned a ton of people. I think there are some more I need to do. There were a TON those mean people banned for coming to my defense. THANK YOU for sticking up for me! You are the best. If I have not unbanned you in a day, remind me! I am trying to get a lot of things in order … but of course I want you back on my page!!!
your link in 2) brings me to:
Sorry, this page isn’t available
The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.
Go back to the previous page · Go to the Facebook homepage · Visit the Help Center
Thank you for making me aware. The hackers changed my URL. But now it’s back to what it should be thanks to the help of a man named Tom who works for FB. He is truly my hero, as well as every reader of my blog who reported the horrific posts that the hackers were posting. I am so grateful for everyone’s support through this ordeal!
I am so sorry that this had happened. You finally gained your control back. Perhaps, you will continue spreading your good messages.
Hang tough Rachel. The nasty ways of others in the world can get you down sometimes. But remember, there are so many more of us who truly appreciate your writing and insights. As a mom of 4, your work has meant a great deal to me. Thinking of you and wishing you peace and strength.
Hi Rachel
Fortunately, I did not receive any of the aforementioned emails. I would however like to take this opportunity to tell you how much your website means to me. I am not a computer or smart phone savvy person, but the messages you send hit home regardless. I honestly don’t think I have read your blog without tears of joy and recognition coming to my eyes! You are the most amazing, eloquent author I have ever had the pleasure of reading!
“Make the most of the best and the least of the worst.”
Robert Louis Stevenson
Peace
Noel
So glad to see Light will outshine darkness. I was sick to see this happening to you. Thank you so much for your great site. Glad to see you back.