Scam Signature Message:
Coca Cola Giveaway ( 24 Pack Limited Offer )
Scam Type: Fake Event, Survey Scam
Trending: February 2012
Why it’s a Scam:
Clicking the wall post link takes you to the following bogus Facebook Event page:
Clicking the link on the page above redirects you to yet another fake Facebook event page:
Here is where the shenanigans come into play. You are required to join the event, and invite your friends – notice the more people you invite the more Coke you get. Obviously a ploy by the scammer to dupe as many people as possible.
Clicking on the cocacolagiveaway[dot]com link loads the following survey scam:
How to Deal with the Scam:
If you did make the mistake of joining this bogus event, then you should remove yourself as an attendee. Also, if you invited your friends, then you should let them know that the event isn’t legitimate and that they should ignore the invite.
As with other offers that sound too good to be true, always verify online promotions with the company. Don’t be tricked by bogus offers and marketing gimmicks!
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
Recommended Resources
BitDefender Safego is a Facebook application you can install that will scan your News Feed and help keep you safe from scams like this.
PRIVATE WiFi® is a Personal VPN that encrypts everything you send and receive. Don’t access Facebook from a public WiFi hotspot without it.