Facebook recently launched a new security wall to block scammers, but many are worried these measures won’t stop spam from spreading and that determined con artists will simply find new ways to get at unsuspecting users.We’ve all seen suspicious posts on Facebook–a friend’s curiously impersonal message that’s riddled with odd typos, the irresistible app offering a chance to see who has viewed your profile, and more. These scams are sometimes obvious and easy to avoid, other times nefarious and simple to fall for.
Despite Facebook’s security features, safe social networking rests in the user’s own hands.
We’ve put together a list of some of the most common Facebook scams and what happens if you fall for them. Take a look through the slideshow (below) and vote for the worst scam. Then, view our slideshow of 9 Facebook privacy tips to beef up your personal social networking safety.Clickjacking
Clickjackers on Facebook entice users to copy and paste text into their browser bar by posting too-good-to-be-true offers and eye-catching headlines. Once the user infects his own computer with the malicious code, the clickjackers can take control of his account, spam his friends and further spread their scam. For example, clickjacking schemes hit Facebook soon after bin Laden’s death and spread like wildfire by purporting to offer users a glimpse at video or photos of bin Laden’s death.
Fake Polls Or Questionnaires
If you click on an ad or a link that takes you to questionnaire on a site outside Facebook, it’s best to close the page. When you complete a fake quiz, you help a scammer earn commission. Sometimes the quiz may ask you to enter your mobile number before you can view your results. If the scammers get your number, they could run up charges on your account.
Phishing Schemes
Phishers go after your credentials (username, password and sometimes more), then take over your profile, and may attempt to gain access to your other online accounts. Phishing schemes can be difficult to spot, especially if the scammers have set up a page that resembles Facebook’s login portal.
Phony Email Or Message
Facebook warns users to be on the lookout for emails or messages from scammers masquerading as “The Facebook Team” or “Facebook.” These messages often suggest “urgent action” and may ask the user to update his account. They frequently contain links to malware sites or virus-ridden attachments. They may even ask for your username and password. The best advice Facebook offers is to report the sender and delete the messages without clicking anything.
Money Transfer Scam
If a friend sent you a desperate-sounding Facebook chat message or wall post asking for an emergency money transfer, you’d want to help, right? Naturally. That’s what makes this scam so awful. The point is to get you to wire money to scammers via Western Union or another transfer service.
Fake Friend Request
Not all friend requests come from real people, despite Facebook’s safeguards against bots. Some Facebook accounts exist purely to establish broad connections for spamming or extracting personal data from users, so watch out whose friend requests you accept.
Fake Page Spam
Malicious pages, groups or event invitations aim to trick the user into performing actions that Facebook considers “abusive.” For instance, a fake invite might offer a prize if you forward it to all your friends or post spammy content on their walls. Sometimes a scammer will set up fake pages as a front for a clickjacking or phishing scheme.
Rogue Apps
Malicious apps are pretty common on Facebook these days. They can be a cover for phishing, malware, clickjacking or money transfer schemes. Oftentimes, the apps look convincingly real enough for users to click “Allow,” as they would do with a normal Facebook app. However, rogue apps use this permission to spread spam through your network of friends. For example, the recent “Facebook Shutdown” scam spread by claiming that Facebook would delete all inactive accounts except those that confirmed via app installation.
The Koobface Worm
The Koobface worm is getting on in years (it first appeared in late 2008) and has been mostly scrubbed from the site, but Facebook still warns users to look out for it. Koobface spreads across social networks like Facebook via posts containing a link that claims to be an Adobe Flash Player update. Really, the link downloads malware that will infect your computer, hijack your Facebook profile and spam all your friends with its malicious download link. This worm affects mostly Windows users.
