So many people are falling for scams on Facebook, but why?
Each week, when it is quiet and all of the YoVille releases have been written up, I like to look to see if there’s anything else which YoVille players may find interesting. I often check for scams and other things which I feel players who use Facebook should be aware of. Each week sites like Facecrooks report of new scams and hacks, and it never ceases to amaze me how many people are still falling for them.
Time after time, I read my Facebook feed and see it spammed to high heaven with freebies which are obviously far too good to be true. All you have to do is click on links and download… Yeah, right! What it really means is:
” Change the color of your Facebook page, and while you’re at it, click on this link and we’ll use your information but we’re not telling you what we’ll use it for. Oh, and by the way, we’ll spam all your friends pages as well!”
The latter part really bugs me – seeing my own wall spammed with rubbish. If you are daft enough to believe this (insert suitable profanity here), fine – but please don’t share it with me. You may be willing to spend hours clearing malware from your pc, but I’m not. I have got better things to do with my time, like watching paint dry or playing tennis with my hamster!
Then there are the events that I am invited to. Free YoCash/Facebook credits/totally unbelievable offer! All you have to do is – yes you’ve guessed it – click on the link! After that you are requested to complete a survey with your real info, click on all of your friends names so that they can be spammed, then wait for your offer to arrive. That’s right – you have to wait, and wait and wait and… of course nothing arrives! *sigh*
Look folks, if something appears to be too good to be true, and if it’s on Facebook then it usually is! Time and time again, the wonderful people who put all of their time and energy into teaching people how to be safe on the internet (and watch out for scams, hint hint!), tell us NOT to click on any iffy links. They advise us to check links by hovering over them with our mice – the pc ones of course, not the furry, squeaky ones – and if in doubt, don’t click! So why don’t people take any notice?
Is it the lure of the word “free” which causes them to lose all common sense? Is it the thought of a pink custard colored Facebook wall which makes them home in on that download? Or are our governments trying to control us with subliminal messages?
Well, whatever the reason, I just wish people would think a bit first, before clicking. Not only are they potentially spoiling their own online internet experiences, they are destroying those of others too! I know I will already be “preaching” to many of the “converted” here, but for every one person who reads this and says “I am not that gullible,” I can guarantee that there are two people out there who are!
Are you tired of seeing your Facebook feeds and walls spammed with garbage? Are you equally tired of asking your friends not to spam you- or of having to block their posts? Are you someone who unwillingly spammed your friends feeds because you were new to Facebook and didn’t realize what you were doing? Please leave your thoughts in the comment box below. Please also share Agent Alby’s journal – and thank you for continuing to read them.
