Update: We have had email communication with the Cafe Public Zoo Contests page administrators today. At this time, we do not believe they are operating the page in an effort to mine user data or deceitfully spam or scam users. Initially the page caught our attention because it had components and behaviors of traditional Facebook survey scams. Also, the page violated Facebook’s TOS in the following ways:

1. The page required users to publish a status update to be eligible for the contest.

2. Facebook requires contests and promotions to be conducted through a 3rd party application.

The admins are working on correcting these issues. Our discourse with them was professional and they were very diplomatic in asking us to retract / update information about their page. We wish them all the best!

Message: Tonight !! 250 Golden Rabbit Give Away February 20, 2011 You have to Like and Share Page!!

Type: Like-jacking – Spam – Possible Data Mining

Trending: February 2011

Why we issued the warning:

Once you click on the Wall Post link, you are taken to the following page:

This “contest”, if you want to call it that is conducted by Cafe Public Zoo Contests. Here is their main Facebook page:

The Golden Rabbit is just one of many pets that users can enter contests for. There are some big issues with how this page is conducted and operates.

1. Any page that requires you to “like” and “share” the page to proceed is a big red flag. Granted, marketing companies often run promotions on Facebook that do require these steps. Bigger and more reputable brands will often use a Facebook platform application like Wildfire Interactive to conduct marketing campaigns of this nature.

2. This page requires you to enter your Facebook ID in the comments section of the contest you are entering. This got me wondering – what can a developer or marketer do with just your Facebook ID? Just a quick Google search led me to the following article:

Why your Facebook ID is marketers’ Holy Grail – The preface to this article is “End of Privacy.”

That alone should get your attention! The article goes on to state:

“At bare minimum, your ID provides access to your name and profile photo, no matter what privacy settings you have. Those who stick with Facebook’s recommended settings will reveal even more: their location, hometown, list of friends, lots of photos, and many of their “likes,” such as activities and interests. That’s a goldmine for companies that are trying to target their products to you.”

Based on this information, I would strongly suggest that you guard your Facebook ID, and do not post it on open forums as this page suggests.

How to remove your information from the page:

If you did follow their directions, then you should remove this particular page from your list of liked pages. You also need to remove the post that you shared on your wall. You don’t want your friends falling for the same trick. Lastly, if you did enter your Facebook ID in the comments section, then you should delete the comment. It is also a good idea to lock down the privacy settings on your Facebook account if you haven’t done so already.

Facebook Privacy and Security Made Simple

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