Scam Detectives – Facebook friend to the stars?

Move over Brad - Angelina wants to be my friend....

Wow! Hollywood star and Mrs Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie wants to be my friend on Facebook!
For those who can’t see the image, the text reads:

Hi,
The following person invited you to be their friend on Facebook:
Angelina Jolie
Invite sent:
Tue, 8 Jun 2010 17:15:33 +0200

Facebook is a great place to keep in touch with friends, post photos, videos and create events. But first you need to join! Sign up today to create a profile and connect with the people you know.
Thanks,
The Facebook Team

Now, I’d love to think that Angelina really wanted to connect with me on Facebook, (although Mrs C probably wouldn’t be too happy about it…) but let’s face it, why would she?

The link at the bottom, which ostensibly directs you to Facebook, actually leads to an online pharmacy selling Viagra and other “enhancing” medications, along with a nasty bit of malware that would allow hackers to take control of your PC and harvest your personal details.

Remember:

Facebook friend requests show up on your profile. If you receive an email including a friend request, then log in to Facebook.com and accept it that way. DO NOT click on the link in the email.

If you don’t already have a profile on Facebook (Hi Mom!) and a friend invites you to join, go to Facebook.com and create your account. DO NOT click on the link in the email.

If a major Hollywood celebrity wants to be your friend on Facebook (and you don’t usually bask in the company of the stars) then the chances are it’s a fake profile or a phishing attempt. DO NOT click on the link in the email.

And finally

Just for good measure – DO NOT click on the link in the email.

Tags: facebook, Phishing, Social Media, viruses and malware