Schemes & Rip Offs: Facebook Scam Warning - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

FROM BBB NEWS RELEASE:

Don't click any application that asks you to link your debit card to your Facebook account. A new scam is using social media to infect victims' computers with malware used to commit bank fraud.  

How the Scam Works: 

The virus entices Facebook users by promising 20 percent cash back if they link their Visa or MasterCard debit cards to their Facebook account. The malware scam is particularly malicious because the fraudulent offers appear to come from trusted friends.

On Facebook, scammers will hijack an account by getting the user to click on a post and accept their application. This gives scammers access to all of the user's account information and allows them make posts in the user's name. 

Tips to Avoid Facebook Scams:

• Never install a game or an application that you're not entirely sure is legitimate. 
• Be wary of posts from friends that use overtly promotional language.
• Never click on Facebook posts or install applications that claim they will tell you which of your friends viewed your profile. It's impossible to find out who is viewing your profile.
• If you mistakenly install an application on Facebook, click the "Home" icon in the top right-hand corner of the site, and go to "Account Settings." On the right-hand column of the page click on the icon that says "Apps," and uninstall the suspect application.

For More Information 

For more information about the malware scam, see our full article on BBB.org.

For more scams in your area, check out BBB's complete scam directory.