Posts tagged as:

Facebook scam

Alert: “Miley Cyrus Smoking Bong” Video Is A Scam

December 20, 2010

Security experts says that scammers are using Miley Cirus as the latest bait to lure users for yet another survey scam on Facebook

Rogue applications on Facebook usually start circulating wildly through newsfeed.

The latest scam, according to senior technology consultant Graham Cluley at Sophos, comes with the message:

“OMG Miley Cyrus is caught smoking a BONG on video [LINK]”

fb rougeapp mileycyrus Alert: Miley Cyrus Smoking Bong Video Is A Scam

As with any rogue application, clicking on the link will take the pages that will ask you for granting permission to an application and finally landing you to an online survey page.

And while you are stuck on the survey page, the application will be busy posting updates on your wall, spreading the scam among your friends in your network. And the worst part, such surveys can collect personal information about you which once collected is at the scammer’s disposal to use it in any way they want.

If you have been hit by such scam apps, or if you find some apps posting similar updates on your wall, revoke the permission granted to the rogue app and remove all the links from your newsfeed that reference the app.

Hint: If you are not sure about the name of the rogue app, look at the updates posted on your wall. For example,

“OMG Miley Cyrus is caught smoking a BONG on video [LINK]”
5 minutes ago via Caught on Tape

The underlined part after the via is the name of your rouge application.

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Alert: “Who Viewed My Profile” App Hits Facebook Again

November 30, 2010

Want to know who viewed your Facebook profile?

Sorry again. Such apps don’t exist.

Scammers have used different variants of Facebook apps to tap into users’ curiosity about who might be viewing their profile on Facebook.

The latest app using this scheme comes with the message:

“OMG OMG OMG… I cant believe this actually works! Now you really can see who viewed your profile! on [LINK].”

Most users already know the Facebook doesn’t allow such apps according to their policy, and such apps are only scams. But, according to Sophos, more than 60,000 people clicked into the trap in a few hours, which I believed gives enough reason to share this post again with you.

Such application will redirect users to ad-filled pages or trick users into taking up surveys. The app will also start generating several newsfeeds on your wall and trick more people from your network into the scam.

If you have been hit by such scam apps, remove the app and all references to the app from your newsfeed.

If you need help, check out our post on how to remove rouge applications.

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Alert: Scammers Using Justin Bieber To Scam Facebookers

November 6, 2010

Justin Beiber is the new teen sensation that has captured the hearts of millions of young girls around the world. Yes I know that, you know that, and scammers know that.

In a new Facebook scam, scammers are using Justin Bieber as the bait to lure victims with the message that reads:

OH MY GOD!…Justin BIEBER Hits Girl For NO Reason!
OMG! This Is So Badd! >>> [link] <<<

fb justinbieber rougeapp Alert: Scammers Using Justin Bieber To Scam Facebookers

(Source: Sophos)

Most grown ups will know well what it is all about when they see such updates, but tweens and fans of Bieber will not even think before they click the link.

Clicking the link takes the you to a an image of a young woman with a title “Poor Girl Committed Suicide Becuase Of This!” with a big “Click Here” at the bottom left and all this pose like it is from a Fox New Tv report with the channel’s logo.

Clicking through the image, the fox will come out of the sheep’s clothing and request permissions to access your profile information and data any time, send you emails, access your friend lists, and post to your wall.

But, by now the temptation to know more about the incident will be too much for most eleven or twelve-year-olds, who won’t think twice to click on until they get to see what they are trying to see.

Once a user allows the application, they will be presented with a 30-second survey, through which the scammer will earn some revenue. Moreover, while the victim is busy answering the questions to win free gifts and get hold of more information, the app will be busy posting on their wall to lure more people from the victim’s network. One thing to note is, the app will use varied update messages when they post on the wall.

As always, “If you’ve been hit by a scam like this, remove references to it from your newsfeed, revoke the right of rogue applications to access your profile [...] and edit your profile to remove any unauthorised pages from your ‘Likes and interests’,” advises Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at Sophos, who reported on the scam.

If you need help in removing rouge application, check out the articles in our Facebook Help section, and the app you need to remove in this case will be “terrible.”

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Alert: Facebook Users Hit By iPhone Scam Once Again

October 5, 2010

Free iPhone scam hits Facebook once again and is said to be in circulation since Sunday.

According to security firm Sophos, a number of social networkers have reported their staus being updated automatically with messages that reads:
“Just testing Facebook for iPhone out icon razz Alert: Facebook Users Hit By iPhone Scam Once Again Received my free iPhone today, so happy lol… If anyone else wants one go here:”

Or:

“Anyone want my old phone? Claimed my free iPhone today, so hapy lol… If anyone else wants one go here:”

Users who click on the advertised link will be asked whether they want to “Allow” the application to access their basic information. On giving their permission, users will be redirected to a web page which will translate some commission for the spammers behind the scam.

sophos iphonescam Alert: Facebook Users Hit By iPhone Scam Once Again

(Source: Sophos)

The rouge application, which now has the access to a user’s profile will automatically post similar status updates on their wall waiting for the next prey to click the link.

“If you’ve fallen for this trick, I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for a new iPhone,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

Seriously, you should be busy removing any references to the link from your wall and also revoking the permission given to the  rouge app icon smile Alert: Facebook Users Hit By iPhone Scam Once Again . If you need help on removing  these rouge application, you can check out this how-to article.

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Survey Scam Spreads Rapidly On Facebook

September 8, 2010

fb scam small 300x179 Survey Scam Spreads Rapidly On FacebookSurvey scams are spreading at outrageous pace on Facebook lately. The most recent survey scam doing the round comes with the following message:

“I thought this survey stuff was GARBAGE but i just went on a shopping spree at walmart thanks to FB.”

Such message may appear on your wall, friends wall or end up in your inbox . Do not click on the links; either remove the link or delete the mail.

With 500 million users, Facebook is gold mine for cybercriminals and people trying to cash in on the ignorance of the users.

The scam message reported above might be modified in the days to come, because when many people become aware of it the people behind the scam may find another way to lure users.

So, be vary of what links you click, no matter where the link came from or how alluring the advertisement can be.

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Lawsuit against Facebook, Zynga, Other Ad-Based Social Games

December 28, 2009

With tons of lawsuits being hurled at Facebook, a class-action lawsuit has yet again smacked Facebook, Zynga Inc., and others. This is due to the widening ad-based social game scams infesting Facebook.

The so called “offers-marketing” have been popping up like mushrooms in Facebook. These ads would offer virtual money or goods in exchange of certain offers like subscribing to Netflix, a flat rate rental-by-mail and online streaming video store, or answering a market research survey. There is one instance where players are asked to answer an I.Q. Quiz wherein they need to enter their mobile numbers to receive the quiz results and then charged $9.99 without their knowledge.

quizscam Lawsuit against Facebook, Zynga, Other Ad Based Social Games

Another scam is the “Video Professor”. Players are offered virtual currency if they sign up for a free CD. The gamers are tricked into believing that they only pay for the shipping fee of $10. But upon agreeing to get the CD, on a different page of the contract, it is stated that they are actually purchasing an entire set of learning CDs and will be charged $189.95.

vp Lawsuit against Facebook, Zynga, Other Ad Based Social Games

The strategy of these ad-based games is to bait free-to-play game players. To increase competitive edge, some players use real money to get upgrades. However, those who do not want to shell out cash can fall prey to these “offers-marketing”, not knowing that they would likely end up paying more than what the upgrade or virtual items cost.

Due to the increase of scamming incidents, Facebook has taken action against some of these advertisers by disabling the ad networks and suspending several games. Hence, a lot of developers have been greatly affected by this move. In return, the developers opted to shut out their offers completely instead of losing a spot on Facebook.

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