Facebook and GiftCard Offers- Warning from Aust Govt Scamwatch

From their email alerts

SCAMwatch is warning social networking users to beware of scam posts which offer fake gift vouchers or products for free. The vouchers are offered in exchange for personal details and passing on a scam link to friends.

How the scam works

You see a post on a social networking site such as Facebook or Twitter offering free gift vouchers or products. Recent scams have offered fake vouchers for supermarkets and coffee shops. Other have offered free products such as smartphones, tablet devices and laptops.
This scam abuses brand names and logos of well-known companies and products in order to make the offers look legitimate.
To claim the voucher or product you may be asked to first “Like” a Facebook page, share the scam post with friends and follow a link to complete a scam survey. The survey will ask for personal details which scammers can then use to commit identity theft.
If you fall victim to the scam you will never receive the product or voucher. If you print an online voucher it will be a fake which is not honoured or of any value.
In more sophisticated versions of this scam, clicking on links may cause your social media account to become hijacked or compromised. A hijacked account will spam your friends with more scam post. If your Facebook page has been compromised use this Facebook page to re-secure your account. If your Twitter account has been hijacked see this Twitter information on how to re-secure your page.
Similar scams also are perpetrated via email with links to online scam surveys.
Protect yourself

More information

http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/89150…

Comments

  • +1

    Thanks for the heads up. Will pass these along to my facebook addicted friends!

  • +1

    I think I've seen one for Coles vouchers…

  • +1

    just another reason to be extremely cautious of giving out your personal details to any willy-nilly web site on the internet.

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