14 DAY TRIAL // At the end of February we’ve seen that “Free iPad 3” scams have surfaced on social media websites and now Trend Micro researchers analyzed a few new variants of these plots.
Unlike other versions which involved clickjacking, one of the later variants simply advertises a contest. The Test & Keep an iPad 3 Free scheme allows users to select the color of the gadget they’re about to win and requires them to provide an email address.
Once the email address is handed over to the crooks, a new site appears, listing the rules of the bestelectronicrewards program.
The shady webpage tries to dupe potential victims into sharing the false advertisement, but not only on Facebook or Twitter, but also on their personal websites with the aid of referral links provided by the con artists.
By following all the instructions, the unsuspecting internaut unknowingly becomes a spammer.
Another, more dangerous Free iPad 3 Giveaway requests phone numbers and network provider details from the victim. This information can be utilized to send SMSs that promise fabulous prizes for those who send text messages to a certain number.
Individuals who comply and send the required text messages find themselves signed up for mobile services that cost a lot of money.
To ensure that these sites are not completely illegal, the scammers add a fine print to the bottom of the site where all the terms and conditions of the game are listed. They rely on the fact that few people will stop to read about the risks presented by the scam.
Users are advised to stay clear of these contests since Apple will never give away iPads, especially before being officially launched.
When encountering the false advertisements on Facebook, you can report them to the social network site's representatives using the Report button.