Scam Signature Messages:
EXCLUSIVE!!! The “Young Love” Stolen Video Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez.
Trending: January 2012
Scam Type: Malware, Rogue Plugin
Why it’s a Scam:
Clicking the link on the Facebook wall post takes you to the following screen:
This is the first time that I can remember Flickr being used to spread a Facebook scam. When you ‘CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE VIDEO’ you are taken to the following page:
The scammers are hoping that the YouTube logo will make unsuspecting users think it is a legitimate video. The end game here is a rogue browser plugin. As with Facebook applications, only install plugins / browser extensions from trusted sources. Based on what we have seen so far, this one doesn’t fit the bill. Installing the plugin leaves your system totally vulnerable to the developer. Similar scams have been known to pack malware and viruses. The potential video is totally not worth the risk. We decided to stop here and advise you to do the same.
How to Deal with the Scam:
If you follow the scam through to its completion, then you are likely spreading the very same scam message to your friends. They will need to remove the scam message by clicking the small “X” located in the top right hand corner of the post on their wall. You also need to run a complete system scan on your machine to make sure the code didn’t infect your system. You will also need to uninstall the rogue add-on from your web browser.
How to protect your Facebook account from Rogue Browser Extensions
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.