Several readers have reported seeing sexy photos and videos on Facebook recently. As usual, these links do not lead to the salacious content being advertised. Instead, user accounts are being like-jacked so that the scam continues to spread among their friends. The end game is the all too common survey scam. Read on to see a detailed example.

Scam Message:

[VIDEO OF THE DAY] It was all caught on camera!

Alternate Messages: [OMG] This Video was on the NEWS

Scam Type: Like-Jacking – Survey Scam

Trending: December 2012

Why it’s a Scam:

Clicking the wall post link takes you to the following page:

If you click play, no video will be displayed. Instead, you’ll be presented with the survey scam shown below:

Your Facebook account will also be ‘like-jacked.’ This means that there is hidden code on this website that causes you to ‘Like’ the video without your knowledge or consent.

How to Deal with the Scam:

You will need to navigate to your Timeline and remove the ‘like.’ Locate the item and then click the ‘x’ in the top right corner of the post.

Never complete surveys to unlock videos or other content on Facebook. Scammers use these tricks to either spread malware, obtain personal identification or earn commissions from marketing companies. Don’t pad their pocket and possibly open yourself up to harm!

Some of the surveys require you to download files to your computer. Never do this! If you did so in error, then run a complete system scan with a good anti-virus software program. The I.Q. Quiz scam has been around for a while, and it typically requires you to enter your cell phone number to receive the results. The scammers then bill you for premium services. Keep an eye on your phone bill for bogus charges.

Also be wary of free offers or anything that sounds too good to be true. For more information on Facebook scams related to free offers, please see our alert: Beware of Facebook Freebies!

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.

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Recommended Resources

BitDefender Safego is a Facebook application you can install that will scan your News Feed and help keep you safe from scams on Facebook.

PRIVATE WiFi® is a Personal VPN that encrypts everything you send and receive. Don’t access Facebook from a public WiFi hotspot without it.

Action Alert | Free Parental Control offers a 100% free Internet safety solution designed for parents. There is also a Maximum Protection option for parents that need a more advanced set of tools.