|
August 24, 2017 - There is a scam circulating on Facebook that appeals to virtually anyone who likes to get something for nothing. And who doesn't? Whether it is a coupon for a free ice cream cone, or the chance to win a free car, people are obsessed with giveaways. So it isn't really surprising that scam artists are trying to appeal to this instinct by offer a freebie that may be too good to pass up. Two free airline tickets. Unfortunately, anyone falling for the scam is likely to learn the hard lesson that nothing in life is really free.
The scam works like this. You're browsing on Facebook and see a sponsored posting offering two free airline tickets to anyone who clicks on the ad. This week, the targeted airline appears to be EasyJet. And the ads tell consumers the reason for the giveaway is that the airline is celebrating its 22nd anniversary. Sounds great, right? The ad also provides a URL that sounds like it may be legitimate; EasyJetLover.us.
Anyone clicking on the ad will be whisked away… not on a vacation… to a website that infects their computer with malware. And that malware attempts to steal information that is stored on your computer. Doesn't sound so great anymore does it.
This scam appears to have started in Europe and so far it appears to be targeting European victims. Within the past month, another European airline - Ryanair - was used as the bait. But geographic borders are no barrier to this type of thing and we expect the scam to appear in the US in short order.
It's a pretty safe bet that you heard your parents say, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," sometime in your life. Keep that in mind as you surf the web. This is one giveaway that you can do without.
byJim Malmberg
Note: When posting a comment, please sign-in first if you want a response. If you are not registered, click here. Registration is easy and free.
Follow me on Twitter:
|
Fraud and Scams 
