MySpace Viral Scam
Mon, Jun 2, 2008
A not so new Myspace viral scam, that I have just been informed about, targets the younger users of the site, promising it’s victims a free $500 gift card to use at Macy’s.
The headlines that are employed include -
“Hey dude, check it out! You ain’t gunna believe this!” or “I’m just hittin you up, as a friend, to fill you in on this exclusive deal to get a FREE $500 Macy’s Gift Card, yes, FREE!
This viral scam, which attempts to steal the user’s MySpace identity and friends’ email addresses also attempts to post comments on their profiles.
PC Magazine Executive Editor Jeremy Kaplan said, “It is an epidemic on MySpace,” and also,“It is a big problem, particularly because of the pervasiveness of MySpace”. Kaplan then went on to say that he doesn’t think that MySpace has done very much to address the problem.
Check out how Alicia Key’s MySpace page was targeted in this video clip.
Attacks on Myspace and other social sites are on the increase, both in terms of hacking attempts as well as scammers looking to commit various types of fraud and identity theft. Be on your guard, never give personal details to strangers online, however much you think you may know them, and keep your anti-virus software up to date.
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I think its despicable that they target kids but then they are easy prey arnt they?
Unfortunately, yes. A lot of children are less aware of some of the scams and risks associated with social sites and will be mighty tempted by interesting or seemingly profitable offers.