Scam Signature Message:

FREE $500 Target GiftCard! (limited time only) 

Target is currently giving away free gift cards to all facebook users!

Scam Type: Free Offer

Trending: February 2012

Why it’s a Scam:

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

Here, you are required to Post a message to your profile – this is how the scam spreads rapidly from user to user. After you click ‘like,’ the following page loads:

This is the first time we have seen a Penny Auction site used to spread questionable prizes and rewards on Facebook. The goal here is to get you bidding on penny auctions at Biggerbidder.net.  We did a little research into the company and the results were not favorable. This review by Reviewopedia.com should be enough to for anyone to avoid this site altogether. There are 17 user reviews and not one of them was positive. The complaints range from accusations that they are an out right scam, that they bid up their own auctions, the items being sold end up costing more than retail prices, and their fees are higher than other penny auction sites.

**Note – Scams like this often use multiple domains, so you may see a variation in the landing pages and scam messages.

How to Deal with the Scam:

If you did make the mistake of sharing the scam link, then you are now spamming your friends with the very same message. Clean-up your newsfeed and profile to remove references to the scam. (click the “x” in the top right hand corner of the post).

Be on the lookout for more marketing offers arriving to your email inbox and physical address if you submitted that information to the scammers. Also be aware and alert for possible identity theft attempts.

If you submitted your cell phone for any of the surveys or offers, then keep an eye on your cell phone bill to make sure no premium charges appear.

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

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Recommended Resources

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

PRIVATE WiFi® is a Personal VPN that encrypts everything you send and receive. Don’t access Facebook from a public WiFi hotspot without it.