"Hungry Bear" Video Is Yet Another Facebook Clickjacking Scam
Description: Viral wall postings
Circulating since: Feb. 2014
Status: SCAM (see details below)
Text example: As shared on Facebook, Feb. 18, 2014:
Analysis: This is but one example of a social media clickjacking scam. It works by luring users into attempting to view a "shocking video" which, in the end, doesn't exist.
Those who try are shunted to an external website where they're instructed to share the video, then take an online survey. Every time someone follows those instructions, the scammers make money.
Sometimes users are also offered links to "security" or "antivirus" software which in fact is probably malware designed to steal that user's personal information, compromise their social media account, and/or infect their computer with a Trojan horse virus.
If one of these blurbs turns up on your newsfeed, it means someone on your friends list attempted to view the video and shared it as instructed. Don't be suckered into doing the same. Think before you click.
More examples of Facebook clickjacking / survey scams:
• "Girl Killed Herself Live on Cam" Video
• "You Won't Believe What This Pregnant Girl Does!" Video
• "Dead Mermaid Discovered in Florida" Video
• "Huge Plane Crashes Into Bridge" Video
• "Giant Snake Swallows Up a Zookeeper" Video
• "Shark Eats Man" Video
• "Spider Under the Skin" Video
• "Girl Killed Herself on Halloween" Video
• "Will Smith Pronounced Dead" Video
Resources:
Last updated 02/18/14
Circulating since: Feb. 2014
Status: SCAM (see details below)
Text example: As shared on Facebook, Feb. 18, 2014:
[SHOCKING VIDEO] Hungry Bear Tear Women into Pieces in Few Seconds
Peoples did not saved her and keep filming the footage
Analysis: This is but one example of a social media clickjacking scam. It works by luring users into attempting to view a "shocking video" which, in the end, doesn't exist.
Those who try are shunted to an external website where they're instructed to share the video, then take an online survey. Every time someone follows those instructions, the scammers make money.
Sometimes users are also offered links to "security" or "antivirus" software which in fact is probably malware designed to steal that user's personal information, compromise their social media account, and/or infect their computer with a Trojan horse virus.
If one of these blurbs turns up on your newsfeed, it means someone on your friends list attempted to view the video and shared it as instructed. Don't be suckered into doing the same. Think before you click.
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More examples of Facebook clickjacking / survey scams:
• "Girl Killed Herself Live on Cam" Video
• "You Won't Believe What This Pregnant Girl Does!" Video
• "Dead Mermaid Discovered in Florida" Video
• "Huge Plane Crashes Into Bridge" Video
• "Giant Snake Swallows Up a Zookeeper" Video
• "Shark Eats Man" Video
• "Spider Under the Skin" Video
• "Girl Killed Herself on Halloween" Video
• "Will Smith Pronounced Dead" Video
Resources:
How to Protect Yourself from Clickjacking Attacks
About.com: Internet/Network Security
How to Keep Your Facebook Account Secure
Facebook Help Center
How to Spot a Facebook Survey Scam
Facecrooks.com, 6 February 2011
Clickjacking Scams: Man-Eating Snakes and Unwatchable Videos
Softpedia, 14 June 2012
When a Facebook Friend Gets Clickjacked, What Should You Do?
Sophos Naked Security blog, 25 March 2011
Last updated 02/18/14