Scam Signature Message: I just got a month of FREE groceries from Walmart by joining this page – Free Month of Groceries

Notice the dialogue here – Tina tells Barbara it is scam, but her attitude is “you just never know.” Well, with a little common sense you CAN KNOW and avoid falling for and spreading scams like this. We all like getting stuff for free, but how likely is it to get free groceries for a month?

Scam Type: Bogus Offer

Trending: May 2011

Why it’s a Scam:

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

This bogus Facebook page asks you to “like” the page and complete a series of other actions to unlock the promotion. This should be a huge warning sign. Bogus free offers abound on Facebook. If it sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is…especially on Facebook. Once you complete the required steps and click “Continue,” you are presented the following page:

If you read the fine, you must complete several “sponsor offers.” Not only is this a ridiculous hoop to jump through, and will cost you a lot of money in the end, but 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 liking the page and sharing the scam message with your friends, you should clean-up your newsfeed and profile to remove references to the scam. (click the “x” in the top right hand corner of the post).

The level of damage control required will largely depend on how many “special offers” you participated in. If you submitted your name, address, email, etc., then be on the lookout for more bogus offers arriving in your email and regular mail. Also be on alert for identity theft attempts.

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