BOISE, Idaho — Scammers are always coming up with new ways to try and trick unsuspecting consumers, including through social media. Now, the Better Business Bureau is warning that scammers are using a phishing scam through Facebook to try and steal your information.
The scam works like this: you receive a Facebook message with a video link asking, "Is this you?" The link preview normally has your Facebook profile picture included. If you receive this message, don't click on it. Delete the message, and make sure your firewall and anti-virus software are up-to-date.
If you're a victim of this scam, you probably received the message from someone you trust, like a friend or family member. The message expresses surprise that you were in the video and contains a link that's supposed to lead you to it. However, you aren't in the video and you should not follow the link.
Phishing scams are fraudulent attempts to steal your personal information. Cybercriminals want your passwords, bank account numbers, or other sensitive information. They can also trick you into downloading malware onto your computer.
Messages from cybercriminals can often look like they're coming from a trustworthy source, making you pay closer attention because you recognize the sender. The Facebook phishing scam can lead you to a clone of a legitimate website. You may think you're on a Facebook login page when you're actually on a page designed to capture what you enter. It could also download a harmful virus onto your device.
Other scams popping up on social media include fake contest pages. The scams are all over social media and spread quickly. They tell people they can win a free car or trip with just the simple steps of liking, commenting, and sharing the page. If you see these pages, do your research to see if it's a legitimate contest. You should report them if it doesn't appear to be legitimate.
For more ways to avoid being scammed, click here or check out the BBB Scam Tracker to see what's being reported in your area.
