14 DAY TRIAL // A message enticing users to click on a link claiming to point to a video showing two small creatures with human look is currently making the rounds on Facebook, entrapping victims into a survey scam.
The message appears to be from a friend, who probably tried to watch the video and was asked to share the piece of news first.
The initial clues presented in the post on the social network should trigger the alarm bells of the tech-savvy users, but the average Joe may fall for the trick.
Urging potential victims to share content before viewing it
Cybercriminals are constantly trying to find new subjects that could attract a large number of users into their trap. In this case, they used a picture of what looks like someone examining two small humanoids.
There is additional information available, designed to make the potential victim click on the message and advance to the next stage of the scam; the crooks add that the two creatures “discovered” have 12 inches in size, adding to the sensational character of the story.
According to Hoax-Slayer, as soon as the URL is accessed, the potential victim is directed to a spoofed Facebook page that appears to be complete with messages from others who saw the alleged video.
However, a closer analysis reveals that most of the areas on the page are actually images and not active content.
The last step of the deceit consists of setting another obstacle before the victim can see the promised video; this involves completing some surveys, which is actually the main purpose of the campaign.
Indication of the deceit
“Breaking news” messages from a Facebook friend should generally be treated with suspicion, and the recommended course of action is to verify the source or, if this is not available, to check reputed news outlets for the subject.
If online media failed to cover the sensational information, then the post is most likely a trap from cybercriminals trying to earn some cash.
Also, a request to share information before it has been verified is a clear “danger ahead” sign. Facebook never asks to disseminate content until it has already been experienced by the user.
Completing the online survey may not seem too dangerous in itself, but oftentimes the crooks ask for personal information, such as email address or phone number.
This information can be used in future campaigns or can be sold to marketing companies to promote their products, and even to other crooks for delivery of spam and phishing.
In this case, the two creatures are nothing but sculptures, and the man leaning over them is not a scientist but the artist himself.