Scam Signature Message:

Get A Free Dell XPS M1530!
www.YourFreePC.co
Get A Free Dell XPS M1530 Now!

Alternate Messages:

Test & Keep a Free Dell Studio XPS 17!

Take the Free Dell XPS 15 Survey!

Hey [friend name] I received a Dell XPS 1530 laptop today for nothing! I think they are only sending out a limited supply of promo laptops in each area, its actually very nice 🙂 I got it from here

Amazing! I just got a new Dell laptop for nothing!? Facebook is working with dell to help people connect. Take a look here

Scam Type: Bogus Offer

Trending: August 2011

Why it’s a Scam:

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

On this site the user is presented with a quick survey. After answering all of the questions, you are presented with the following page:

Pretty cool that all you have to do is answer a few questions to get a free Dell computer huh? Well, that’s not entirely true. You always have to read the fine print. You must complete several “Sponsor” Offers and surveys. Chances are, after you have completed the 13 sponsor offers you could have bought a computer outright for less money. Also keep in mind the scammers are acquiring a treasure trove of your personal data. You will be required to provide your name, address, phone numbers and date of birth. This will enable the shady marketers to not only spam your Facebook account, but also harass you via snail mail, phone calls and text messages.

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 newsfeed and profile to remove references to the scam. (click the “x” in the top right hand corner of the post).

Be on the lookout for more marketing offers arriving to your email inbox and physical address if you submitted that information to the scammers.

Some of these scams appear to be spreading via rogue applications. If you or a friend are victims of this scam, then do an audit of your installed Facebook applications and remove anything suspicious. For more information about rogue applications and how you can protect yourself against them check out:

How to protect your Facebook account from Rogue Applications

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

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