Wednesday, November 2, 2011

That Facebook Privacy Survey Invite Just Leads to Another Survey Scam

Facebook Privacy Survey ScamIt seems the miscreants that prosper from completed surveys and sponsored offers are making the assumption that the recipients of their spam infested emails are Facebook users, as the latest round of surveys have been dipped in the signature dark blue and labeled as a “Facebook Privacy Survey Invite”.

If a message similar to the one outlined below pops up in your inbox, be sure to avoid it like the plague:
From: Social Surveys (info[at]top-fantasysportsguru.com)
Subject: Facebook Privacy Survey Invite - Your Opinion Needed - Participation required, see offer details‏

What is your opinion of Facebook features?

Facebook - Survey Gift Invite - Give Opinion and Pick a Gift. Details Inside

Give your opinion and pick a gift. Your participation in our survey is greatly valued Participation required. See offer details.

What Is Your Opinion Of Facebook Features? You have been invited to participate in our short Facebook survey and receive a gift of your choice

Click Here

Facebook - Your participation in our survey is greatly valued. You have been invited to participate in our short Facebook survey and receive a gift of your choice (click for list of gifts). Participation is required, see offer details. Your participation in our survey is greatly valued! You have been invited to participate in our short Facebook survey and receive a gift of your choice (click for list of gifts). Participation is required, see offer details. Simply complete our short three-question survey, then follow the instructions on our website. Follow Here to take the survey & receive your gift.

Facebook Privacy Survey Scam - Landing PageThis survey scam closely resembles the recent $100 Cheesecake Factory Giftcard scam that was recently running amuck on Facebook – among others.

Once you click the link in the email, you will be taken to a page that asks you 4 questions (ex: Do you believe Facebook protects your privacy?) before it checks your [predetermined] eligibility for one of four prizes.

Facebook Privacy Survey Scam - Pick Your GiftThe prizes they claim you’ll be able to win are:

  1. $250 Walmart Gift Card

  2. $250 Apple Gift Card

  3. $250 Best Buy Gift Card

  4. Apple iPad

  5. Apple iPhone 4G (did they mean 4S?)


..and all you have to do is enter your email address. At first.

Facebook Privacy Survey Invite - Congrats! You Qualify to be Scammed!Once you click ‘Claim Prize’, you’re taken to a page that asks for a list of your personal information – from your physical address to your date of birth, right on down to your cell AND home phone numbers.

Even if you did indulge all of the requested sensitive information, you still wouldn’t get your “free” prize.

Facebook Privacy Survey Invite - Don't try to leave!No, then you’d have to complete a total of 10 “reward offers” that range from opening a brand new NetFlix account to pulling your credit report (if you’re comfortable handing your social to a scammer) to signing up for some book/movie service for $0.99 starting out or any other bogus offer that they’re dishing up to pull the ol’ bait-and-switch routine on those who fail to read the fine print.

Do yourself a favor and hit that ‘Spam’ button on your email client and send the “Facebook Privacy Survey Invite” to the trash folder where it belongs.

Don’t click the links or give out any personal information. If you do, you’re guaranteed nothing more than to be ripped off and drowned in additional offers.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @hyphenet or “Like” us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the latest scams and computer security threats.

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