Fake Facebook 'chain letter' spreads online

The public confusion over Facebook's recent design changes has fueled the spread of a chain letter claiming that the social network will soon start charging its users. Computer security firm Sophos warned the chain letter is spreading quickly across Facebook, where recipients were told to post the letter’s contents on their statuses. “IT IS OFFICIAL. IT WAS EVEN ON THE NEWS. FACEBOOK WILL START CHARGING DUE TO THE NEW PROFILE CHANGES. IF YOU COPY THIS ON YOUR WALL YOUR ICON WILL TURN BLUE AND FACEBOOK WILL BE FREE FOR YOU. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON, IF NOT YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED IF YOU DO NOT PAY," it quoted the letter as saying in a blog post. But Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley pointed out there is no basis to believe the chain letter since Facebook gets its revenue from advertisers who target Facebook users. “Facebook doesn’t need to charge you to use Facebook, it’s making plenty of money already by allowing advertisers to reach its 800 million users," Cluley said. Cluley said this was not the first time Facebook users were duped by hoaxes and chain letters. Earlier this year, messages were spreading that because the social network had become too slow the site was considering deleting inactive accounts. “Again, totally bogus," he said. — TJD, GMA News