Scam Message:
Random Name and friends, finally a product that works! Lately I have been using this new weight-loss product I saw on Dr-Oz. I am already 25 pounds lighter! I got them from here
If you see this on a friend’s Newsfeed, or if it is posted directly to your wall, then there is a good possibility that your friend has been hacked or has a rogue Facebook application installed. We have seen this posting several times. There is most always a disclaimer from the Facebook account doing the posting claiming that they didn’t post it, and they don’t know how it happened.
This scam uses several scam messages. Some reference Dr. Oz and some do not.
Trending: February 2012
Why it’s a Scam:
Once you click on the Wall link, you are taken to the page below:
**This scam uses multiple domains and scam messages.**
This page is engineered to look like a news site, and serves as an infomercial for an Acai berry diet plan. It appears the scammers are taking control of user accounts, and then spamming this message to their friends. The goal here is to use the trust you have in your friend’s endorsement and purchase the outrageously priced diet pills. We can’t speak to the legitimacy of the product, but considering the marketing methods employed we recommend you steer clear of this product. You could likely find similar products far cheaper at a grocery or health food store.
Another concern about the offer that is worth mentioning is the product billing page shown below:
This is not a secure site. You should never, ever enter credit card details or other sensitive information unless you see, “https:” at the beginning of the web address.
How to Deal with the Scam:
If you see this posted on your friend’s Wall, then try to contact them immediately and let them know that their Facebook account has likely been hacked, and they need to change their Facebook password ASAP.
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