Beware Free iPad scam on Facebook & Twitter
We’re getting reports of another scam doing the rounds on Facebook & Twitter. This time, scammers are trying to recruit “iPad testers” to receive Apple’s latest gadget free of charge, in return for reporting on its useability and functionality.
Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Here’s how the scam works
The scammers create a page called “iPad Researchers Wanted – Get An iPad Early And Keep It!”, “The Mega iPad Giveaway” or similar. They recruit fans, who are then encouraged to recruit other fans from their facebook friends.
When you sign up, you’re taken to a quiz, and asked to enter your mobile number to receive the results.
You (and all the friends you invited…) will then be signed up for a premium rate subscription service which will cost you in the region of $10 (£6.70) every week until you unsubscribe.
Graham Cluely, senior analyst at Internet Security firm Sophos said “”Not all of them pretend to offer an iPad, so be on your guard for other scams too. The most important thing to remember is to not invite your friends to any Facebook page or application until you have thoroughly researched what it’s about. Furthermore, you should never be tempted to hand over your mobile phone number to some daft internet quiz.”"
Sophos have released a useful video explaining how the scam works:
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We now have a great range of PC and Home Security products available in the Scam Detectives Security Supplies online store (powered by Amazon).
Presumably, PhonepayPlus – “the organisation that regulates phone-paid services in the UK” – should be shutting down these scammers who subscribe users to premium rate services without advertising their pricing correctly.
Per their site, you can make a formal complaint by:
Completing the online form on its website – http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk
Calling its freephone helpline – 0800 500 212
Writing to PhonepayPlus at Freepost, WC5468, London SE1 2BR
Penalties include:
Ordering the service provider to pay reasonable and valid claims for compensation
Imposing fines of up to £250,000 for each breach of the Code
I’ve shared you article on digg, well written
Thanks for reporting on this scam. The only problem is that there are legitimate ways to get free iPads, (referral marketing, known about for donkey’s years) that has sufferred due to these scammers.
Surely the cell phone providers should have picked up on this and prevented it? They must have known before anyone else?
Bardzo ciekawe informacje.Pozdrawiam, Magda.