Scam Signature Message(s): [Random Message] http://bit.ly/gm8uS8

This bit.ly link is currently generating several scam messages via “The Update You Made” Facebook application. We have seen the following messages spammed on user’s walls:

I cannot believe these are the people looking at my profile, find out who is looking at yours now here —>

So many people are looking at my profile and now I know who actually are

This told me my EX was looking at me, find out who is looking at you NOW!

Check out how often your profile is viewed daily

OMG, ewwwww I cannot believe these people are checking me out, I feel so used

Find out who is stalking your profile now

Scam Type: Rogue Application, Survey Scam

Trending: February 2011

Why it’s a Scam:

Once you click on the Wall Post link, you are taken to the following page and asked to install the “The Update You Made” Facebook application. We have also seen the “You Can’t Guess” application used to spread this scam.

If you click the “Allow” button, you must agree to give the application developer full access to your basic information, the right to post to your wall and the right to access your data at any time and Manage your pages. Granting this access allows the scammer to spam their message on your News Feed, and this application could create a fake Facebook on your behalf. You should never give a third party application this much access unless you are 100% sure of their intentions and authenticity. If you do proceed and install the application, you are presented with a typical survey scam:



Completing the survey will not reveal who stalks your profile or any of the other information promised in the spam messages. The scammer lures you in with a false promise, hoping you will follow through and complete the survey. Each time someone completes a survey they get paid. Don’t complete any surveys and give them personal information they can use to do you harm. Some surveys require you to download a game to proceed. These downloads often contain viruses or other malware that can infect your system. Never download anything from scams like this.

Keep in mind that profile spy and stalker apps are all bogus and violate Facebook’s TOS. For more information about them check out our in dept article:

Facebook Profile Spy, Stalker & Creeper Apps – Everything you need to know

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. You also need to access your privacy settings and remove the application.

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 stay 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