14 DAY TRIAL // Facebook scams that leverage the names of celebrities have been around for quite some time. However, it appears the social media service is still having a tough time keeping such spam runs under control.
According to security expert Graham Cluley, who has recently left Sophos to start his own security news website, many users have reported seeing Facebook posts that advertise a raunchy video featuring Harry Potter star Emma Watson.
The scammers claim the video was leaked after someone hacked into Watson’s phone.
Users who click on the links are taken to a page where they’re asked to hit a “Like” button. Then, they’re instructed to install an app called “VideoLeak” to continue to the video.
Once this VideoLeak app is installed, it starts posting all sorts of messages on the victim’s behalf in an effort to lure as many users as possible.
The final goal of the scheme is to lure the victim to survey sites that generate an income for the scammer each time someone visits them.
Facebook has deployed several anti-scam mechanisms, and it allows users to report scammy posts. However, Cluley believes the social network should do much more, be more proactive.
“The sheer number of warnings and attacks that are still seen spreading on the social network suggest that Facebook has not got this problem licked yet. More needs to be done to educate users about the dangers, and to proactive protect them against such scams,” the expert noted in a blog post.
In case you’re a victim of such a scam, make sure that you revoke the shady application immediately. Also, remember to delete all the posts published on your timeline before your friends click on the malicious links.