Facebook Giveaway Scam

Tiny houses, free airline tickets, even cash…scammers might claim to give these things away in Facebook posts but they’re not real.

Who Is It Targeting: Social media users

What Is It: You’ve probably already come across a few Facebook posts that promise “we’re giving away this (insert object here), just click Like and Share to be entered into the drawing!” It’s tempting to click, even if there’s hardly any chance you’ll win.

The problem is this: if it’s one of the many rampant scam posts that pop up on social media every day, clicking can be far from harmless. The link may redirect you to a site that infects your computer or steals personal data. At the very least you’re potentially opening yourself up to having your account hacked.

How Can You Avoid It:

• Before clicking, stop and ask yourself why someone would give away a new car, a diamond necklace, or even a house.
• Look at the source: if it’s not a trustworthy name, there’s a good chance you’re falling into a scammer’s trap.
• The stuff you share can be visible to your friends’ list, so be mindful of putting them in harm’s way, too.

Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from KADN.com.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530.