Facebook Scum Launch 'Victims Scamming Victims' Campaign

• by Carlo Orlando on 20110302 @ 10:26PM EST | google it | send to friends
• Filed under Security | (related terms: facebook, scam, profile, malware, tinie app)

Malware peddlers are once again scamming Facebook users for profit. What makes this swindle different is that once the scammer gets what they want out of their target, they turn around and offer the victim a chance to scam others for a nominal fee.

Facebook Creeping: Too Good to be True

It seems as if it is human nature for someone with a Facebook account to want to know who is looking at (or "creeping") their profile page at any given time. The scam centers around this kind of curiosity with applications such as "Profile Creeps" and "Creeper Tracker".

Once a user falls victim to the scam, their Facebook page is modified to include links that read "I just saw who STALKS me on Facebook! You can see who creeps around your profile too!" Those that click onto the link are then taken to a survey page, where the malware peddlers are generating money for each completed survey.

"Tinie App" Poses Big Problems

While similar social engineering tricks have been repeated countless times in the past, it's what happens after the survey has been filled out, and the malware peddler paid, that makes this scam unique. The tables then turn and victims are offered a chance to purchase software that provides guidance on how to scam others as well.

The social engineering scamming toolkit, called "Tinie App", can be purchased for around $25 and provides would-be scamsters with step-by-step directions on how to virally spread their own Facebook scam. (Source: msn.com)

Fake Video Used to Elicit Curious Clicks

Other messages that have appeared on compromised Facebook profiles claim to feature a video of a father catching his daughter stripping over a webcam. The message reads "OMG she is so busted! Dad catches daughter on webcam!" and comes with link to the alleged video.

Instead, the link directs the individual to a rogue application that attempts to access their personal information and post the same falsified message on their Facebook page (wall). (Source: securitynewsdaily.com)

Users are reminded to remain vigilant and never click on links that seem too good to be true, or seem out of character to be posted on a friend's Facebook page.

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