Hijacked accounts, promises of free iPads, IQ quizzes, and ring tones – these are all part of a massive spam attack hitting Facebook right now.
I’ve received a Facebook private message that appeared to be from a friend inviting me to an event titled “Get @iPad_ for Free Event!!”. (See below). Other users have reported wall messages and status updates with phrases like “u have to check out this website its glitchin right now and sending out ipads to everyone for free!”. Similar spam messages have appeared on Twitter, via hacked accounts.
A Facebook spokesman told IDG the iPad scam was affecting “an extremely small percentage of people on Facebook” but they took the threat seriously.
Meanwhile, Facebook users have also reported spammy chat messages touting IQ quizzes and mobile ring tones.
If you see any messages like this, please ignore them so the spam doesn’t spread. Also if it’s via a friend’s account, let them know so they can update their password and take other security steps. Don’t friend any spammers on Facebook either, even if the site is suggesting them as ‘People You May Know’. You don’t because the profiles are not real.
I try to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. I read the private message from my friend because she is a trusted source but ultimately I realized that she must have been hacked. I’d love a free iPad but I can’t imagine any company is just randomly giving them out to all comers.
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I've completely given up trying to warn and help people. It's hard sharing a planet, or a social networking site, with morons.
But I've noticed that most victims among my friends are NOT native English-speakers. They don't understand what they're responding to, and they don't understand my warnings!
Comment by Gene Lyons — August 26, 2010 @ 11:21 am
IT HAS NEVER BEEN EASY
… SAVING ANOTHER WHO IS NOT USED 2BELIEVING
… ''OVERSIGHT'' MATTERS, OBVIOUSLY.
Comment by Ray Loke — August 26, 2010 @ 1:16 pm
ANC if you're worried about the integrity of your Facebook account then back it up to your PC/Mac with our app SocialSafe at http://www.SocialSafe.net.
Comment by Julian Ranger — August 26, 2010 @ 1:20 pm
This is one thing that really sucks about FB. The scams I hate too. Like the ones that take all your Zynga poker chips and the fake Farmville animals. People fall for them all the time.
Comment by Amanda Lakso — August 26, 2010 @ 4:45 pm
I agree w/ Gene, i have given up tryig to tell ppl. one time, i told my friend about KOOBFACE and then he downloaded it and said it did nothing…. and i was like "DUDE WTF!! SAY GOODBYE TO UR FACEBOOK" and then the day later his FB got hacked by it >:(
Comment by Neal Shireman — August 26, 2010 @ 4:45 pm
That's why I joined usurive. Sick of the spam and people who spread it on FB. Sorry, the site is only open to those who have .edu email addresses.
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Feels liberating to be on a peaceful site with REAL profiles and not 500 million spam accounts.
Comment by Guest — August 26, 2010 @ 6:48 pm
Me and my friend have been hacked constantly. Suddenly, I was getting the IQ quiz thingy alot, and my friend got so scared when she started sending them out. We tried to change our passwords and security but nothing works and nothing still will work. Were waiting on facebook to make these stupid hackers go to jail.
Comment by Alexa Senker — August 29, 2010 @ 8:43 am
To make matters worst…. it does not help that FB is constantly adding new "features" to their privacy features, that a user has to go and UN-Check to keep their info private. This is backwards thinking if you ask me. FB should add a feature and let us decide if we want by checking it!
Comment by Jim Colosimo — August 29, 2010 @ 10:04 am
I douobt your profile was hacked. It’s the stupid 3rd party apps like those BS zynga games and banner ads that install spyware onto your PC without you even clicking on them that is taking over your FB account. You need to uninstall all FB apps from your profile, make sure you have no unknown friends on your list, then run a spyware/adware removal program to check your PC.
Comment by Guest — August 29, 2010 @ 6:43 pm
Please, send Alert Messages of Spam Attacks to Facebook in english AND IN SPANISH, there are a millions of people from southamerican countries Who do not speak english, and IT doesn´t mean they are MORONS, almost my entire Facebook friends are spanish language speakers as I am. Thank you
Comment by Yasmin — August 30, 2010 @ 9:53 am
I have the stupid IQ tests, billboard ringtones, and slutty girl videos showing up on my page. I reported it to Facebook, but how do I get it to go away? It's driving me nuts and I feel like a leper!
Comment by katiethebloglady — September 16, 2010 @ 10:37 pm
Put a Permanent Block on Facebook app Spamming & those creepy surveys, spread the word ! – Bypass Surveys FOREVER from your computer !
Comment by Benipal — February 21, 2011 @ 4:38 pm
Hopefully when I bring stuff like this to my friends attention, they'll take heed and not become morons. If they refuse to do something about the spam that appears to be coming from them, even after I bring it to their attention, then they may need to be deleted.
Comment by Donna Sampay — November 25, 2011 @ 6:43 pm