Starbucks survey scam targets Facebook, Twitter users

A new survey scam offering free coffee from popular coffee shop chain Starbucks is targeting users of social networking site Facebook and micro-blogging service Twitter.

 

Computer security firm Trend Micro said the new scam arrives via spammed messages, which when clicked can redirect a user to a web page that claims the prize can be claimed only after a "tweet."

 

"For the first sample, the user is requested to share the link through Twitter, while the second sample requires the user to share it through Facebook," it said.

 

It said frauds analyst Sarah Calaunan pointed out that in either case, clicking the “CLAIM MY GIFT” button after sharing the link through Twitter or Facebook leads to a rewards site.

 

The said site offers users certain mobile applications.

 

"Choosing any of the applications leads to the survey scam site ... This survey scam site is the same site we reported before, and has been used heavily in past attacks," Trend Micro said.

 

In the "rewards" site, users are asked to enter their mobile number into the site, subscribing the user to unwanted services in the process.

 

Services include certain “clubs” that send content to subscribers daily - costing the users additional charges for a service they did not sign up for.

 

Yet, Trend Micro said this particular attack is neither the only, nor the biggest Facebook-related attack seen recently.

 

Earlier this month, Facebook members saw their newsfeeds peppered with spammed posts that contained offensive images.

 

"As Facebook users continue to fall for social engineering lures such as the one we reported here, the schemes targeting them are sure to continue," Trend Micro said. — TJD, GMA News