Scam Signature Message: BBC News – Everyone do check what she did on cam

Scam Type: Survey Scam, Rogue Application, Photo-Tagging Exploit

Trending: April 2011

Why it’s a Scam:

This is another BBC scam taking advantage of Facebook’s photo-tagging exploit.

Clicking the goo.gl link takes you to the following Facebook application installation screen:

If you agree to install the “newsb” application you must agree to give the application developer full access to your basic information, the right to post to your wall, the right to access your data at any time and access to your photos and videos. Allowing this access gives them permission to spam your wall and tag your friends with their scam message. You should never give a third party application this much access unless you are 100% sure of their intentions and authenticity.

This scam is using multiple bit.ly and goo.gl links and multiple Facebook application names.

Once you click on the “Allow”, you are taken to the following page:

Here we see the end game of a typical Facebook Survey Scam. Each time someone completes a survey, the scam creator gets a commission. The scam creator will possibly have your personal information to do you harm. (depending on the information you submitted in the survey) If you downloaded any games or other files then your computer could be infecting with a virus, trojan or other malware. Never download files from scams like this!

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 (click the “x” in the top right hand corner of the post).You also need to access your privacy settings and remove the application from your list of approved Facebook applications. (Account/ Privacy Settings/ Applications and Websites.)

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 charges 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

How to spot a Facebook Survey Scam