When new Facebook features are added, scammers use the chaos, confusion and disdain to take advantage of unsuspecting users. The most recent instance involved the Facebook Ticker. There are ways to remove the Ticker by using browser extensions; however, there is no such fix for the Facebook Timeline.

Inside Facebook reported the following just yesterday:

“Despite Facebook’s efforts to educate users about the new profile, some people have misconceptions that make them susceptible to scams like these. We have found 16 Timeline-related scam pages, which have collectively gained more than 71,000 likes. The largest, with nearly 19,000 likes, has been around for at least two weeks. These pages are among the top search results when searching Facebook for “timeline.”

There are several Facebook Pages, rogue applications and rogue browser extensions claiming to show you how to remove the Timeline from your profile. Just doing a quick search via the Facebook Search bar revealed the following:

Timeline is being rolled out to all users. If you don’t have it now, then you soon will. If you have already made the switch and don’t like it, well, the bad news is that you are stuck with it. There is no way to revert back to your old profile.

Notice that the top result has already amassed over 10,000 likes. Most of these require you to ‘like’ the page and ‘share’ a message with your Facebook friends.

There are also several browser plugins that offer to remove Facebook Timeline. You really aren’t removing Timeline. The plugin either  either customizes the Facebook layout to a certain degree, or it tricks Facebook into thinking you are using Internet Explorer 7. Currently, Timeline isn’t compatible with this version of I.E. A word of caution – some of the plugins are malicious and have been known to spread malware. As with third party Facebook applications, we strongly advise that you only install browser add-ons from trusted, well-known sources. And just because an extension is located in the Chrome Web Store doesn’t mean it’s. There have been instances where rogue extensions infect users before being shut down by Google.

Socialfixer, formerly known as Better Facebook, is a trusted and well known plugin that thousands use to customize their Facebook layout. Though, you won’t be able to remove the Timeline with this plugin you’ll still be able to customize and streamline it to your liking a great deal.

Other extensions that appear to workout issue are: FBPurity.com and Timelineremove.com. There are others, but all browser extensions are use at your own risk. (We are not endorsing these extensions – we are simply passing along information that we believe to be factual.)

If you or your friends fall victim to one of the scams, then use the guides listed below to remove Facebook applications or Rogue Browser Plugins.

How to Protect your Facebook account from Rogue Browser Extensions 

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:

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