Top 10 Social Networking Scams to stay away from!

Millions of users fall for Facebook scams every year. An analysis by Bitdefender, the antivirus software provider revealed the celebrity scam is no longer as popular as last year, when bogus videos of them to spread malware on the social network. The Bitdefender story was also featured by The Guardian.

The “free” trip to Disneyland was also excluded from the list, while “guess who viewed your profile” scams keep a steady first place in the panel, comprising almost one third of the total. In July last year, ‘free Disney tickets’ outclassed the ‘profile stalkers’, after tricking tens of thousands of victims.

“Change your Facebook color” schemes now circulate internationally and claim 7.38 per cent of the total number of scams.

Bitdefender Chief Security Strategist Catalin Cosoi says,“This is social engineering at its finest – a challenging mental game that pushes the right psychological buttons. The baits have changed in time – stalkers, peekers, admirers, overly attached girlfriends and exes haunting you, but the reason why this scam works is simple: human nature.”

Another scam lure users with free Facebook T-shirts (4.21 per cent). Fans aspiring for branded clothes end up filling fraudulent surveys or installing malicious add-ons that mine their sensitive data. Other newcomers include scams which lure users with unsealed giveaways (2.41 per cent).


Here are the ten most widespread in a list that also shows their proportions and targeted countries.

TOP 10 FACEBOOK SCAMS

1. Total profile views/visitors (Check out now who viewed your profile) – 30.20% (US/UK, Australia)

2. Change your Facebook Color/Colour – 7.38% (US/UK, Australia)

3. Rihanna sex tape with her boyfriend – 4.76% (US/UK, Australia)

4. Check my status update to get free Facebook T-shirt from Facebook – 4.21% (US/UK, Australia)

5. Say goodbye to Blue Facebook (Dites Aurevoir au Facebok BLEU) – 2.76% (France)

6. Unsealed. We are giving them away for free – 2.41% (US/UK, Australia)

7. Check if a friend has deleted you – 2.27% (US/UK, Australia)

8. See your top 10 profile peekers here! You will be shocked to find out your ex is still creeping on your profile! - 1.74% (US/UK, Australia)

9. Find out how to see who viewed your profile  (Encontré la manera de ver quien ve mí perfil. No sabes las sorpresas!) – 1.55% (Spanish-speaking countries)

10. Just changed my Facebook theme. It’s amazing – 1.50% (US/UK, Australia)

Others: 41.22% (US/UK, Australia, Germany, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China)

Also Check out the latest Facebook Scam about "Girl killed by husband for kissing other man" Revealed!

The studies were based on data from the Bitdefender Safego tool, a free Facebook app that scans timelines and alerts users in case of malicious and fraudulent posts.
All product and company names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and are the property of, and may be trademarks of, their respective owners

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