14 DAY TRIAL // Facebook scammers are running a campaign that tries to trick users into installing rogue apps and participating in surveys by claiming their accounts need to be verified.
The rogue messages posted from already compromised profiles read: "You need to verify your account if you want to keep it! check it out http://apps.facebook.com/[removed]"
Another variation displays a thumbnail image with "Facebook Verified" and a green check mark displayed on it.
The associated message reads "Facebook is requiring people to verify their accounts if they wish to keep it active! Very soon if your account isn't verified it will be locked and you won't be able to access it. Verify Now!"
This account verification lure has been traditionally used in phishing scams, which means that its success has already been proven.
In addition, the claim might sound somewhat familiar to people familiar with Twitter, where there is already an official account verification program, albeit only for high profile users.
The advertised links take users to a rogue Facebook app called "Account Verification" which asks for access to post on their walls.
This is the default method for scammers to spread their campaigns. Once installed, the rogue app will begin to pump out spam messages from the accounts without their owners' knowledge.
People who fall for the trick and install the app on their profiles are then asked to complete one of several surveys in order to verify their identity.
Of course, doing so will only earn scammers money and will not result in their account being verified, because there is no such feature on Facebook.
People affected by this scam should go to Account > Privacy Settings > Applications and Websites and remove the rogue app. They should also clean the spam messages from their wall.