14 DAY TRIAL // A new survey scam is rapidly spreading on Facebook by tricking women into giving a rogue app access to their profiles with promises of free makeup.
The rogue messages posted from the accounts of users that have already been compromised read "anyone want some free makeup? ive just ordered mine for free and i thought i would post it here before the offer runs out. its stuff like mac, maybeline, estee lauder etc! The site is: [link]"
The link takes female users to an external page promising free mascara, foundation, eyeshadow, lipstick, eyeliner and other products that would probably be of interest to them.
The scammers even try to ease the visitors' minds about privacy by writing "We do not ask for your email address or password, just your basic information such as country, gender, etc., so we can target the freebies to you and you can let your friends know."
The page displays a Facebook login button, which users are instructed to click. Doing so will prompt an application permission request dialog.
The app wants access to post on people's walls so it can use the accounts for propagation. But it doesn't only post spam on the victims' walls, it also targets their friends individually by sending messages directly addressed to them.
As usual, users are eventually asked to take a survey, which tries to convinve them to buy something or subscribe to a service in order to receive the free stuff. For any user who does this the scammers earn a hefty commission through affiliate marketing schemes.
If you've fallen victim to this scam, go to your Account > Privacy Settings > Applications and Websites, and remove any unknown application listed there. Afterward, delete all spam messages posted to your wall without your knowledge.