Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Although Facebook recently introduced a new firewall to block scammers, many determined and clever con artists can still penetrate even the most sophisticated security systems with the result that users need to be extra vigilant and exercise as much common sense as possible when faced with a scammer’s trap.
The most important thing to remember is to think twice every time you are asked for any personal details or requested to input something into your computer. For example, just cast your mind back to when Osama Bin Laden was shot and the White House placed an embargo on video pictures being released. Those of a morbid or simply sensationalist disposition would have been tempted to view video which had supposedly been filmed by a serviceman and was available simply by copying and pasting some code into your browser bar.
In fact, all those tempted to do this before they had time to think straight would have unwittingly handed control of their account to so-called Clickjackers who would then be able to replicate the offer to victim’s friends. If it’s not sensational offers like this example, it might be take the form of some sort of financial inducement or a ” Too good to be true deal “. The lesson is – never, ever copy and paste code into your computer which comes from someone you neither know or trust.
Similarly, Facebook users should be aware of the existence of malicious apps that appear convincingly real and just like any other normal Facebook App. For example, the recent ” Facebook Shutdown Scam ” spread by claiming that Facebook would delete all inactive accounts except those that confirmed via app installation. Rogue apps where users click ” Allow ” enable spammers to access your network of friends.
A third example of Facebook scams again involves something which looks perfectly normal like a link for an Adobe Flash Player update but, in fact, simply acts as a ruse through which to download malware that infects your computer, hijacks your Facebook profile and spams all your friends with the same bogus link.
