Facebook users in Gedling borough are being warned about a new Facebook page calling itself ‘Freebie Trends’ which offers expensive prizes in exchange for likes, shares, comments and clicks.
Scam-busting website Hoax-Slayer.net is warning that this page is yet another scam designed to trick you into submitting your personal information on decidedly dodgy websites.
Experts at the site say that by tricking people into liking, sharing, and commenting on their fake giveaway posts, these scammers ensure that their fraudulent material is seen by an ever increasing number of potential victims.
When users click the “validate” link, they are taken to a web page that features a list of further prizes. Users are told that they are the “Winners of the Day” and are prompted to click a link to claim the supposed prize. However, the links open various third-party websites that offer the chance to win yet more prizes in exchange for supplying your name and contact details.
A spokesman from Hoax-Slayer said: “The sites will share your information with site sponsors and third-party marketing companies. So, soon after participating, you will begin receiving annoying and unwanted phone calls, text messages, emails, and letters peddling all manner of products and services.
“But, no matter how many links you click or offers you participate in, you will never get to validate your Freebie Trends prize entry. There are no prizes and nobody wins except the scammers.
The scammers earn money whenever people disclose their personal details on one of the sites.
