New Facebook Scams - Warning
Right behind the Coca-Cola Facebook scam, which promised to reveal the “truth” about Coca-Cola, but in reality simply aimed to get a hold of your personal info, are two more spreading via facebook status updates.
The first one contains the message: “OMG!! McDonalds might soon shut down because of this, you have to see this,” followed by link to a page that tricks you into sharing the story with your facebook friends. Once you’ve done that, the page will take you to a survey designed to take your personal info.
The other scam is also spreading through Facebook status updates. This time the message says: ” OMG!! Guys, you have to see this: This mother went to jail for taking this pic of her son”, followed by a link that roughly duplicates the process above.
That is why it is good to NOT click on links like these.
If a Facebook page or any site insists that you share a piece of content or do a survey before reaching the promised destination, it is most likely a scam. Never give out your personal info.
Have you been hit with a scam like this?
Tags: facebook, friends, phishing, scam, social, social networking, Social Sites, viral, virus
22. July 2010 at 4:07 am :
OMG! thanks for warning
22. July 2010 at 4:10 pm :
I have a facebook account but I dont even use it, I find that facebook might be a weapon against you if you start posting daily information like every one does.
24. July 2010 at 12:56 am :
Not yet! Thanks for the tip. I really uses Facebook a lot and it’s sad to know that there are other people who uses this site for scamming. Beware!
28. July 2010 at 5:08 am :
Thanks for the warning, do you mind if I share this site to let others know?
28. July 2010 at 11:00 am :
Thanks for this post. It will help many gullible Facebook members decipher between legitimate and dubious links. Although Facebook has a mechanism of detecting suspicious accounts and links, many have managed to bypass the site’s security and spam parameters. Every Facebook user must be vigilant and has to immediately report this kind of fraudulent activity online before it can fool many people.
29. July 2010 at 1:57 am :
I am always wary of most facebook applications as I had a long conversation with someone from McCafee at a conference telling me how most viruses are downloaded through facebook quizzes and games. Saying that they are excellent tools for procrastination!
Thanks for highlighting the main villains as I get paranoid thinking they are all evil when many are just clever social media tools.
29. July 2010 at 4:56 am :
Is this a scam? I got a message from a woman in my facebook email. She said she is coming through my town and wondered if I could tell her points of interest in the area. She said she found me by searching people who know my town “XXXX”, MA. Well I tried it and it is true, you can find me easily linked to my town. That’s not my issue though. After writing back to her, even though I sure her picture was not real (looks porn star-ish–but not quite–just over the top sexy)I took another look at her profile. Well She is listed as being a He. What is up with this? I thought it was odd to begin with, and now I find out that it’s a man. What possible angle could there be?
29. July 2010 at 10:22 pm :
Thanks for informing! Thats one reason I am always so apprehensive using facebook :(
30. July 2010 at 11:13 pm :
I’ve had friend requests from women I don’t know, in both cases the pics were of attractive women yet there profile showed very few friends…something not right about it, that or I’m passing on some good looking friends.
31. July 2010 at 4:01 am :
Has anyone had a bad experience from those web designers on facebook? I’ve probably been scammed by one of them- she asked for the money upfront to do a webpage for me- told me she’s supporting her dear elderly parents, blah blah- then after she got the payment, she disappeared. From what the fraud squad told me, sounds like the work of the Nigerian ring.
1. August 2010 at 12:01 pm :
thanks for share
i am using facebook and never thought about
your article shall be taken under account
keep posting
best regards
2. August 2010 at 11:26 pm :
One of the most common ways Facebook accounts get compromised is through simple phishing scams. The way it works is that a user’s account is compromised by a hacker and the hacker then uses that account to automatically post links on each of that user’s friends’ walls. Sometimes the system will send messages to the friends such as “Check out this funny video of you!” with a link that redirects to a page with a fake Facebook login page.
17. August 2010 at 2:30 am :
Facebook is a good way of communicating to everyone but we can’t control the people who are engage to it..so we must really be cautious of our actions especially in giving personal information because it may lead to further chaos..
21. August 2010 at 4:06 am :
I wonder what the scammers will come up with next. One need not be paranoid, but know at every log on, that there are many tricks played by many.
21. August 2010 at 4:46 am :
Thanks… And keep us updtaed! I have had some problems with F/B. And, trying to beware of anything that may look different. I Love F/B!!! But, u will “Have” bad people all over doing ugly things.
22. August 2010 at 9:27 pm :
Thank you for informing us. I appreciate your effort in spreading this warning. More people can aware this.
23. August 2010 at 1:58 am :
Although Facebook has a mechanism of detecting suspicious accounts and links, many have managed to bypass the site’s security and spam parameters.
23. August 2010 at 3:34 am :
I am always wary of most facebook applications as I had a long conversation with someone from McCafee at a conference telling me how most viruses are downloaded through facebook quizzes and games. Saying that they are excellent tools for procrastination!
Thanks for highlighting the main villains as I get paranoid thinking they are all evil when many are just clever social media tools.
13. September 2010 at 1:28 am :
It’s because people on FB now are redneck idiots and spambot accounts with no real person behind them. FB jumped the shark in 2006. It’s now a worthless shit hole of spam and frauds. That’s what happens when you let the unwashed masses with no education onto a once proud former website for the EDUCATED.
25. January 2011 at 11:55 pm :
Nice post! I look forward to reading more from you!