Scam Message:

Free Costco giftcard! Check it out -> http://bit.ly 

Scam Type: Bogus Offer

Trending: October 2012

Why it’s a Scam:

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

After completing all three steps, you are redirected to the landing page shown below. Never post code like this into your browser. Doing so bypasses security protocals built into your browser. You could very easily end up with a malware infestation.

If you read the fine print, you have to complete user surveys and a several reward offers. We have never known of one person to actually receive the item being offered in promotions like this. They appear to be fraudulent marketing gimmicks!

**Note – Scams like this often use multiple domains, so you may see a variation in the landing pages and scam messages.

Free Gift Card scams are hugely popular on Facebook. Click here for more information about these freebie offers and why you should avoid them.

How to Deal with the Scam:

If you did make the mistake of sharing the scam link, then you are now spamming your friends with the very same message. Clean-up your news feed and profile to remove references to the scam. (click the “x” in the top right hand corner of the post).

If you copy and paste code on these type of scams, then you should change your Facebook password and conduct a malware scan of your computer system as a precaution. Luckily, this scam was just generating an access token for your Facebook account, but other times you might not be so lucky.

If you completed any of the surveys, then be on heightened alert for identity theft attempts, and be prepared for a deluge of junk mail.

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.

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

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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.