A scam which attempts to snare innocent Facebook users uses a man-eating shark as bait.
According to the blog by security blogger Graham Cluley, users have been duped into helping spread the scam across Facebook, which poses as a link to a video of a man being eaten. The messages have appeared across the site, shared from the Facebook accounts of users who have already been tricked into clicking on the link.
It promises “Heart breaking footage behind the scene”, but upon clicking on it your browser is taken to a third-party website that tries to trick you into believing you are still on Facebook, with the “video” in the centre of the page.
Despite the “video” appearing with comments from alleged previous viewers of the video, clicking on the video here will not play it – instead you are urged to share the video link with other Facebook users before seeing the video for yourself.
“As a general rule, Facebook users should never share content with their friends, family and colleagues before they themselves have determined if it’s worthwhile. Don’t be tricked by the promise of a lurid, shocking or sexy video into doing the scammers’ dirty work for them,” Cluley said.
“Because what they want is for as many people as possible to share their link, because before they will show you any video at all, they’ll demand that you complete an online survey. Such online surveys earn affiliate cash for the spamming scammers, and sometimes hurt you directly in the pocket by tricking you into handing over your mobile phone number which is then signed-up to expensive premium rate services.”
Be careful on what you click for.
