<< SCAM ALERT – What Your Name Means >>
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Special Note:
This one is part of a new breed of STEALTH SCAMS, which start out pretty innocuously, and later, once it’s popular, starts acting maliciously. Early users may not find anything wrong.
Facebook users should be on the lookout for a post that claim you can find out what your name means. (Examples Below.) If you get drawn in by the bogus message you will end up being led to a Facebook Fan page that forces you to like the page, tricks you into installing a Facebook application and then forces you to complete Fake surveys to get the results. The Facebook Application creates a message that displays nothing more then a picture with a word next to each letter of your name or your name and a brief sentence. Though it may appear that the application is simply created to provide Facebook users with novelty entertainment, there is a much more sinister objective behind it. The Application uses the permissions you granted it to post to your wall without your knowledge and while it’s doing that, it also accesses quite a bit of your Facebook profile information.
The Application Accesses This Information From your Facebook Profile:
Your Basic information which includes: Name, Profile Picture, Gender, Networks, User ID, List of Friends, and any other information you’ve made public
They Application also access a few sets of Non-Basic information which includes: About Me, Birthday, Education History, Likes, Music, TV, Movies, Books and Quotes.
Here are screen-caps of the application installed and the profile data it accessed..
Screenshot #1 – Applications Dashboard
Screenshot #2 – Data Access Log
While the application is accessing all that information from your profile and posting the novelty message to your friends, behind your back, you are led to an external website and told you must complete a survey to pass a “Security Check”. The fake surveys or offers net scammers 1 to 3 dollars per survey completed. The process is a fraud. Please see the examples included below and please read the extended info included below the examples.
Example Scam Message Type 1
Example Scam Message Type 2
Example Scam Fan Page
Example Application Install Screen #1
Example Application Install Screen #2
The Survey Scam
<< GENERAL ALERT >> ( Extended Information )
Be advised; Currently there appears to be high level of Rogue Application related spam on Facebook. These particular scams may engage users as legitimate applications at first, however once they become popular they appear to switch to spreading spam and survey scams.
It is advised that you use extreme caution before installing NOVELTY Applications or Quizzes.
Examples Of Novelty Applications or Quizzes would be:
- Applications that claim to show you how you will die.
- Applications that claim to show you the popular song when you were born.
- Applications that claim to show you what type of dog, animal or mythical creature you are.
- Applications that claim to show you Celebrities that were born on your birthday.
- Applications that claim to predict your future.
The Quizzes themselves may also ask you rather personal questions like: How big is your house, Your Income level, Where do you live, Your Birth-date, Your family size and other information that could be used to commit Identity Fraud.
Signs That An Application Maybe Rogue:
These types of Facebook applications all have two things in common. Many of them have no drop screens or informational preview, (
Meaning: They offer you little to no information about the app you are about to install and no Privacy Policy or company contact info. They simply rush you through the install process.) They also all request the “
Post To Facebook
As Me” permission up front, on the “
Application Request For Permission” Screen. This permission allows the application to post to your Facebook profile at any time, without you implicitly telling it to do so. (Meaning: It’s the Scammers Delight) -As a general rule of thumb you should Personally review all Facebook applications before you install them. Do not install applications simply because it appears friends have used it.
5 Tips For Protecting Yourself From Facebook Scams:
- Make sure your computer’s OS, Browsers and Anti-Virus software is up-to-date and keep them that way.
- Keep your passwords to yourself. (Never Give Them TO ANYONE, NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY.)
- Don’t Friend everybody on Facebook.
- If you are NOT going to use Facebook apps, turn the application platform off. If you ARE going to use Facebook apps, make sure you thoroughly review them before you install ANY of them.
- Don’t trust your friends on Facebook or any other website/social network. Don’t randomly click every link OR Facebook Application they throw your way and make sure you don’t go around facebook or the web clicking everything you see. You should be relatively sure of were a link is going to take you, before you click it..
Facebook Profile Clean Up
If you have fallen for the scam, you need to remove any Facebook Applications you may have installed as a result of the scam and delete any wall messages you have posted as soon as possible. If you have seen your friends post the scam, take a little time to report the spam to Facebook. Please see the resources below.
How do I remove or delete an app from my account?
https://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=170585223002660#How-do-I-remove-or-delete-an-app-from-my-account?
How do I remove a Wall post or story?
https://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=203594616344678#How-do-I-remove-a-Wall-post-or-story?
The link below shows you how to Report Abuse On Facebook. It covers reporting a post as spam.
How to Report Abuse
https://www.facebook.com/help/reportlinks
Did You Fill Out The Survey Scam.
It is important that you never hand over any personal information, such as: email addresses, cell number, name, home address or credit card numbers, to these types of scams. If you do, you are simply setting yourself up to be spammed or worse. Identity theft is big business and handing over some of the info these bogus surveys ask for, will make you a victim of that business. If you have made the mistake of handing over a credit card number, you should call your bank or credit provider as soon as possible to have them remove or dispute the charges that have or maybe made to the card. If you’ve given your cell number to any of these types of Scams, it is important that you call your cell carrier ASAP to have any charges you may receive stopped. If you begin to receive unsolicited phone calls, you should take note of the calls, record names and numbers, then report the calls to the FCC or other proper authorities..
~MBK
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