Scam Signature Message: OMG…YOU WILL CRY TODAY AFTRE WATCHING THIS HORRIBLE THING HAPPEND CALIFORNIA…!! IF YOU FROM USA THAN HELP THIS MAN.

(Note the misspelled words and poor grammar in the wall posting – this is often a sign that you are dealing with a scam)

Scam Type: Like Jacking – Survey Scam – Rogue Application

Trending: December 2010

Why it’s a Scam:

Once you click on the Wall Post link, you are taken to the following page:

When you “click” to continue, you are taken to a Facebook screen that asks if you want to install the “Fox News” application. This is obviously a clever ploy by the scammer to make the application sound legitimate.

If you agree to install the application, you must agree to give the application developer full access to your basic information and the right to email you, post to your wall, access your data at any time and the right to manage your pages. You should never give a third party application this much access unless you are 100% sure of their intentions and authenticity. If you do agree to install the rogue application, you are taken through a series of click screens until finally reaching the scammers end game seen below:

We decided to stop at this point, and it would be wise for you to do the same. Sometimes the goal of these scams is to have users complete surveys, which is how they get paid. Other times, they are used to deliver viruses, trojans and other malware. Is it really worth the risk?

How to Deal with the Scam:

If you did make the mistake of installing the application and passing the link onto your friends, you should clean-up your newsfeed and profile to remove references to the application. You also need to access your privacy settings and remove the application.

If you made the mistake of submitting your cell phone number for any of the surveys, then you should contact your carrier immediately to keep any bogus charging from appearing.

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