14 DAY TRIAL // A message claiming to deliver an allegedly private video featuring rapper Nicki Minaj baits Facebook users to access a page that hosts a scam.
The post circulating on the social network follows a typical pattern: the potential victim is lured with news worthy to make the rounds of all media outlets on the web, which points to an address outside the Facebook platform.
There is no Nicki Minaj private video
The page accessed seems to be from Facebook, but a quick look in the address bar reveals that a different domain is used. However, to maintain the appearances, the crooks add a few elements, such as a section of comments containing enticing messages from fake commenters claiming to have seen the footage.
Then, in order to access the content several steps need to be taken, sharing the information being an absolute requirement because the purpose of the crooks is to distribute the scammy post to as many potential victims as possible.
In the case of the Nicki Minaj video scam, complying with the initial requests on the fake page leads to more demands. According to OTA, the visitor is asked to complete an online survey that would grant access to the content.
Obviously, there is no video available as this is actually the end goal of the crooks, who get paid for submitting completed surveys to different companies requesting them. They can make pretty good money by tricking a large number of people into doing their job, and at the moment news about Nicki Minaj seems to be the perfect lure.
Risk is real, no matter how harmless the scam seems
This may look like an innocent scam, but in many cases the surveys ask for private information like phone numbers or email addresses. The scammers can use these details to perpetrate other deceits online or to deliver spam or phishing emails.
Alternatively, the page hosting the bait can also lead to potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) or to malicious programs. In any case, the risk is real.
Before rushing to watch news of this magnitude, users should check whether it is available on reputable media outlets. If there are no reports, it means that the information is fake, since tabloids and news organizations are the first to publish such details.