How to read your ‘secret’ Facebook messages

SAN  FRANCISCO — A "secret" Facebook Messenger inbox may contain messages you have no idea you received and may even want to read.

It turns out you don't always get a notification to alert you when someone you are not friends with on Facebook sends you a message. Some messages are diverted to a special folder "filtered requests" in the "Message Requests" inbox.  Facebook only notifies you if it senses you might know the sender, everything else is assumed to be spam.

To view these messages:

Open up Facebook Messenger on your phone.

Tap settings.

Tap people.

Tap "message requests."

Tap "see filtered requests."