Scam Signature Message:
[name] Need help please.. can you please click “Click Here” in her profile.. Thanks!
Scam Type: Malware, Chat-jacking
Trending: May 2011
Why it’s a Scam:
Clicking the link takes you to profile page of the lovely, Estella Gillespie.
She looks harmless enough, right? Think again – The “CLICK HERE” link on her profile contains a virus! Always be suspicious of any links you receive via Facebook Chat. Scammers have been using rogue applications to send bogus chat messages from infected accounts. If you receive a message like this from one of your friends, point them to this article:
How to protect your Facebook account from rogue applications.
How to Deal with the Scam:
If you did click on any of the links then you may need to clean up your newsfeed to remove references to the scam. (click the “x” in the top right hand corner of the post). If your installed anti-virus program caught the malware attempt, then your system should not be affected. If you don’t have anti-virus software installed, then you need to that immediately and run a full system scan.
If you or your Facebook friends are falling for tricks like this, it’s time to get yourself informed of the latest threats. Be sure to join the Facecrooks page on Facebook to be kept informed of the latest security issues. Also check out:
Your Ultimate Guide to Facebook Scams and How to Deal with Them
How to spot a Facebook Survey Scam