Scams seem to be a daily event on Facebook. Just ran into another scam on Facebook today, this one posted (like usual) on the wall of someone in my friends list. The person in question didn’t even realize the post was there. The post which showed a message of “I love chipotle” was for a $100 Texas Roadhouse Card.
When trying to figure out if something is a scam, always look for the small mistakes. Scammers don’t usually go to any of the places they talk about or they would know better, in this case Chipotle and Texas Roadhouse are not the same place, they don’t even serve the same type of food. Continue reading →
I’ve been enjoying my Sprint EVO phone since it’s release. Coming from years of using Windows Mobile, learning Android has been “interesting” to say the least. Since I converted to droid, I have found some apps that were nothing more than garbage, while at the same time finding many others that I now find myself not being able to live without.
If you don’t secure your wireless network, strangers could use it and gain access to your computer – including the personal and financial information you’ve stored on it. Protect your computer by using WPA encryption.
The following scam alert post is courtesy of our friends at (LINK)Facecrooks.com (http://facecrooks NULL.com/Scam-Watch/beware-of-remove-facebook-timeline-scams NULL.html). For the latest information concerning Facebook scams, Tech Geek and More recommends visiting (LINK) Facecrooks (http://facecrooks NULL.com). (Thanks to Facecrooks for allowing the repost) Originally posted – January 4, 2012
When new Facebook features are added, scammers use the chaos, confusion and disdain to take advantage of unsuspecting users. The most recent instance involved the Facebook Ticker. There are ways to remove the Ticker by using browser extensions; however, there is no such fix for the Facebook Timeline.
Inside Facebook (http://networkedblogs NULL.com/sjNEW)reported the following just yesterday:
“Despite Facebook’s efforts to educate users about the new profile, some people have misconceptions that make them susceptible to scams like these. We have found 16 Timeline-related scam pages, which have collectively gained more than 71,000 likes. The largest, with nearly 19,000 likes, has been around for at least two weeks. These pages are among the top search results when searching Facebook for “timeline.”
There are several Facebook Pages, rogue applications and rogue browser extensions claiming to show you how to remove the Timeline from your profile. Just doing a quick search via the Facebook Search bar revealed the following:
Happy 2012. Tech Geek and More would like to say thank you to the 116,787 visitors (According to Google Analytics) who visited TGM during 2011
Overall 2011 was best year for Tech Geek and More. The goal for Tech Geek and More will continue in 2012, to make “Technology Easy”. Thank you once again and we hope to see you back again (many times) in 2012.
With New Years Eve 2011 just a couple of days away, I figured it was as good a time as any to post the livestream information for New Years Eve in Time Square – New York. Tech Geek and More will have the livestream showing (courtesy of the Time Square Alliance (http://www NULL.timessquarenyc NULL.org/events/new-years-eve/webcast/index NULL.aspx)) on our site. So for anyone who would like to see what is happening live in Time Square plus special performances and events that wont be shown on Network TV come back on Saturday 12/31 between 5:50p (EST) and 1a (EST) to watch the festivities LIVE!
Watch live streaming video (http://www NULL.livestream NULL.com/?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=footerlinks) from 2012 (http://www NULL.livestream NULL.com/2012?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=footerlinks) at livestream.com
If you are watching before 5:50p on 12/31, you are seeing last years (2010) New Years Eve.
Update: After 11 Hours, everything came back. I can’t answer what happened but I’m still wearing my Oliver Stone hat.
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Its been a strange day. Maybe its all the holiday food, or the fact that it’s the day after the day after Christmas, or maybe 2012 has something to do with it. Not really sure, but for some reason I just can’t help put my Oliver Stone hat on right now and Facebook is at the center of it.
Yesterday, Tech Geek and More added a story (via Facecrooks.com (http://facecrooks NULL.com/)) about being aware of common Facebook scams. Even though the story (LINK) Alert: Beware of Facebook Freebies! (Post via Facecrooks.com) was posted yesterday, I didn’t get around to adding the link to the (LINK) Tech Geek and More Facebook page (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/pages/Tech-Geek-and-More/123599817706693), due to the holiday schedule until today. About 12p, I added the links to that story and links to 2 other stories that were just posted on Tech Geek and More today
- Shopping: After Christmas Gift Returns (Via Good Morning America) (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/l NULL.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fshar NULL.es%2FW251c&h=1AQEDQP21AQFAkcEx6ZOyunpNhQkIiufmyTgYcMludF4nwQ)
The stories were posted not more within 2 minutes of each other.
Immediately after the 3rd story was posted, Facebook stopped responding to me and when I refreshed the page, was taken to the log in page. I’m now met with the message “Facebook will be back soon” when I try to log back in.
If you look at the (LINK) “Read More (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/help/?faq=168410309885639)” that you get with the message, you see its says “It usually means that we’re making an improvement to the database your (my) account is stored on”.
So I have no facts that say anything more than this is just “Routine Maintenance”, but I find it funny that my routine maintenance started immediately after a link about Facebook scams. I knew my Oliver Stone hat would come in handy someday……
File this under the category of “REALLY!” . The following email which was received by Tech Geek and More friends over at (LINK) zombiepancake.com (http://www NULL.zombiepancake NULL.com/) claims to be from a “Funds Clearing” and looks fairly official (At least these guys had spell checker). The email below is exactly as sent except for 2 changes, specifically to omit links, as I’m not trying to help them in their ways. Here is the MILLION DOLLAR ATM email –
We are very sorry for the delay. Your ATM MASTER CARD, Valued US$1.216Million has been activated and is ready for delivery, delivery fee of $125 is needed urgently for delivery of the MASTER CARD to your home address . Note that $5000-$10,000 is permitted daily only for each cash withdraw from any ATM MACHINE within your state.
Therefore do not delay to respond immediately and quickly send us your Receiving Address, Full Names and Telephone number. Get back to us for your Payment so that we can registration the CARD for delivery to your destination including the Parcel Tracking Number which will be provided to you after the registrations is done for easy tracking of your parcel on the arrival
God Bless
Mr. Tony Roland
ATM DEPARTMENT
SKY BANK PLC
Email: mytonyroland@yahoo(Remain removed to not give them that much credit)
Of course, the majority of people have enough common sense to know this is actually a scam. Unfortunately these scams continue to happen simply because there is always someone out there who thinks “It came in an email, it must be true”. If someone didn’t fall for it, the scammers would stop doing it, and move to something else.
The moral (and common sense tip) of this mornings post is simple, “If it sounds to good to be true, then its probably a scam”. This goes for Emails, Tweets, Facebook, or anything else in life.
Oh and lastly to Mr. Tony, from the Sky Bank, using a yahoo email address – REALLY!. Come on, if you go through all this trouble to create a scam, couldn’t you do something better than yahoo!
Now that Christmas is over comes the challenge of the return. Returning gifts that were “just not right”. The following story and video comes from (LINK) Good Morning America (http://gma NULL.yahoo NULL.com/blogs/abc-blogs/holiday-gift-return-policies-nations-biggest-retailers-120637635 NULL.html) (12/26). Becky Worley reporting.
Check (link) Good Morning America (http://gma NULL.yahoo NULL.com/blogs/abc-blogs/holiday-gift-return-policies-nations-biggest-retailers-120637635 NULL.html) to see Price Matching Policy information.
The following post comes from (LINK) Facecrooks.com (http://facecrooks NULL.com/Scam-Watch/beware-of-facebook-freebies NULL.html). They are a great resource for Facebook information. (Thanks to Facecrooks for allowing the repost)
Very few words can capture one’s attention more than the word ‘FREE.’ You would think that the constant use and overuse by marketers worldwide would eventually desensitize us to its power, but such is not the case. Just seeing the word on a page, in an online advertisement, or hearing it on the television or the radio is enough for the average person to stop and take notice.
Facebook scammers and spammers have enjoyed great success with the lure of false promises. At any given moment, you don’t have to look very hard to find the following “Free” offers or scams on Facebook:
Free iPads, iPhones, Personal Computers or Tablets
Free Gift Cards & Vouchers
Free Airline Ticket Offers
Free Facebook Credits
Free Facebook Events
Free Virtual & Game Items
99% of the time, the end game encountered by unsuspecting users is either a survey scam or a marketing gimmick where you have to complete several ‘special’, ‘reward’ or ‘bonus’ offers to qualify for the promotion. These offers often cost real money, and we have yet to hear of a case where the participant actually received anything after jumping through all of the hoops. (if you know of someone that has, please have them send us an email with the details – info@facecrooks.com (info null@null facecrooks NULL.com))
What’s in it for the scammers?
So why do the scam creators go through all of the trouble? If there is a word more powerful than ‘FREE,” it could be ‘MONEY.’ The more benign scams are run by marketing companies that get paid a commission for each survey completed or offer accepted. Users often submit their name, date of birth, home address, email address and phone number while signing up for the ‘special’ offers. As you can imagine, this is a treasure trove of data for unscrupulous marketers and identity thieves.
Another danger with survey scams is the potential for malware infections. Users are often tricked into downloading what they think are games, browser plug-ins or other files. If their system isn’t protected, then they could unknowingly install a virus, keylogger, or all sorts of other malware.
How can you protect yourself from these scams?
The first step is to be aware that scams like this are prevalent on Facebook. If you have the mindset that most of the ‘free’ offers you encounter are bogus, then you’ll be a step ahead of the game.
Think before you Click! If the offer sounds too good to be true, then don’t click that link! There is no way a company can afford to give every Facebook user a $25.00, $50.00 or $100.00 gift card. A little common sense here tells you that something is way off base.
If the offer being presented sounds like it could be legitimate, then contact the company to verify the promotion. Visit their website or contact them on the telephone. This will only take a few moments and could save you a lot of trouble down the road.
As the old saying goes, “if it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.” No where are these words of wisdom more applicable than on Facebook!
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