Don't Phish in These Waters

Story by Hal Goodtree | July 29, 2010 | Tags: Community, News, safety

Cary, NC – Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina is warning consumers about the latest ‘phishing’ scams that are making the rounds on Facebook.

“Phishing scams are designed to lure personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims, and can lead to identity theft,” said Beverly Baskin, President and CEO of BBB serving Eastern North Carolina.  “By targeting Facebook users with phishing attempts, scammers can reach a large group with the potential to steal information from more than 500 million users on one site.”

BBB is warning about two types of scams that have emerged on Facebook, which use familiar brand names to steal your personal information.

Free Gift Card!!

One message appearing on Facebook claims that users can receive a free gift card for clicking on a special link. Consumers are instructed to click on the button labeled “LIKE” to get the free gift card from Subway.  BBB has verified with Subway that this is a scam and it is not affiliated with any Subway promotion.

More recently, consumers have found this same site to offer a free Starbucks gift card to anyone who follows the same steps.

Once a user clicks on the special link included in the fake offer, they are taken to a site that asks for personal information including credit card numbers and other information that should not be provided to an unknown source.

OMG!! Did you hear …?

Some Facebook messages are using the name of familiar companies including Coca Cola and McDonald’s along with enticing headlines including:

• ‘I am part of the 98.0% of people that are NEVER gonna drink Coca Cola again after this HORRIFIC video’
• ‘OMG!! McDonald’s might soon shut down because of this! Warning: Your jaw will drop to the floor!’

Seen these? The often appear on a friend’s status update. It means your friend has been hacked.

Both of these headlines include links that take the user away from Facebook to another site. If you click on the links, you are told to take a survey that asks you for personal information.

Don’t be fooled.

Advise on Staying Safe Online

 Be especially wary of requests for your:

• Social Security number
• Bank Account info
• Credit Card numbers

My Rich Aunt

Most of this is common sense.

For example, a company in Russia continues to advise me that they have $324,518,671 left to me by a wealthy aunt and that they will eagerly deposit it in my account if I just give them my bank ID.

I have no rich aunts in Russia.

In Summary

In the case of the scams identified above, the BBB warns:

1. Sensational – Do not click on suspicious links online disguised as sensational information, even if the link comes from one of your Facebook friends.
2. Who’s Asking? – Do not give out personal information online unless you know with 100 percent certainty that the recipient is a secure, encrypted site and you know for what purpose the information will be used.

Fight Back

The digital revolution can empower communities, individuals and the economy in 21st century America. But we have to protect our assets.

If you think a link is phishy, tell your friends. You can also click on the ‘Report’ button or ‘Flag’ – both of which alert Facebook to suspected activity.

Fight back against cyber-criminals, be safe and continue to help build our online community in Cary.

 

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