Survey Scam: You must Reactivate your account due to facebook security updates.

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The Scam:
Facebook Update: In order to keep your profile on facebook you must Reactivate it! 1.5 Million Accouns Has Been Hacked and we Increase our Security System. + Link

Scam Type: Rogue App, Survey Scam, False Account Reactivation

Block App Links - ( You can use the Block App links to block the facebook app from your profile. )

http://apps.facebook.com/reactivate-fb/

Block App - Reactivate Account! Security Update
http://www.facebook.com/apps/block.php?id=122867617787166&action=block&source=about

http://apps.facebook.com/accountveriffication/
Block App - Verify Account! Security Update

http://www.facebook.com/apps/block.php?id=106847862724623&action=block&source=about

http://apps.facebook.com/veriffyaccount/
Block App - Verification Required! Reactivate Account Now

http://www.facebook.com/apps/block.php?id=169200963126869&action=block&source=about

Facebook User: If you see a friend post a message in your news feed like the one below, Do not fall for it. Do not click on any of the links in the messages. See Example.

Example

The above post was not made by your friend. It was made by one of the rogue applications named "Above", which the friend installed believing they needed reactivate their facebook account due to facebook security upgrades.. This post is designed to look very convincing to those who may not know any better.  As you can see the scam artist who created this app even used the Facebook Security Logo as the rogue application's icon. Facebook does not contact you in this way or any other way to reactivate your account. The rogue app the friend was tricked into installing, used the permission granted to make this post on the friends behalf. Please see the example of the rogue application permission screen the friend saw after clicking the link in the post.

Example (Application Request For Permission) - Click to Enlarge

As we can see above, the "Application Request For Permission" screen for "Reactivate Account! Security Update" prompts users to give it a particular set of permission. With this set of "Permissions" it will be able to do the following:

1. Access to your basic profile information and (Anything ) you have set viewable to (Everyone).
2. Give it the ability to post ( Anything ) to your wall without asking.
3. Give it the ability to post ( Anything ) to any facebook Fan Page you Administrate.
4. Plus the ability to do all of the aforementioned things even when you are not using the app.

The important thing here is that you stop and look at these application screens. You should not blindly install applications to your facebook profile. This application is requesting all of these permissions because once you click allow, the app will spam the same message you clicked on, to your wall and your friends news feeds, without your knowledge. See the example post made by this app, during this test..

Example ( Spammed to wall once App is installed)

While your friends see the above messages pop up in their news feeds, (Spamming Them), you are shown  that you must do a short survey to Verify Your Account. These are nothing more ploys to get you to download a product or do a Survey for which a scammer will be paid. This is not a legitimate facebook process for account verification and for the record you should never click on anything in your news feed, on your wall, in your chat, in a facebook message or in any email which urges you to reactivate or verify your facebook account. Facebook does not contact you by any of those methods to verify your account.. It is advised that if you see this scam posted in your feed, do not click any of the links. See example.

Example ( Fake process to "Verify Your Account" . Survey Scam )

It is important that you never hand over any personal information, such as: email addresses, cell number, name, home address or credit card numbers, to these types of scams. If you do, you are simply setting yourself up to be spammed or worst. Identity theft is big business and handing over some of the info these bogus surveys ask for, will make you a victim of that business. If you have made the mistake of handing over a credit card number, you should call your bank or credit provider as soon as possible to have them remove or dispute the charges that have or maybe made to the card. If you've given your cell number to any of these types of Scams, it is important that you call your cell carrier ASAP to have any charges you may receive stopped. If you begin to receive unsolicited phone calls, you should take note of the calls, record names and numbers, then report the calls to the FCC or other proper authorities..

Read here to learn how to avoid these types of scams on facebook.

Facebook Spam

http://scamsniper.blogspot.com/p/facebook-spam.html

Damage Control ( For those who have fell victim. )

If you have fell victim to any of these scams, you need to clean up your facebook profile immediately by removing the posts they made to your wall and then removing plus blocking the rogue application that you may have install to your facebook. If you've downloaded and installed any programs to your computer, it is advised that you run a full virus scan immediately. At the link provide below you will find helpful information to assist in these task, if you are not sure what to do..

Stay Virus Free

http://scamsniper.blogspot.com/p/staying-virus-free.html

About Black Knight

I am a computer repair technician with over 15 years experience and have been computer security and information privacy enthusiast for the last 4 years. I've helped literally thousands of individuals fix their issues by offering help through various blogs and Facebook pages. I like teaching myself and others new things, and believe in freely sharing knowledge.