BBB Warns Against Facebook Scams

(Undated) — The Better Business Bureau is warning Facebook users to look out for scam postings. They say many of these scams show up in “buy-and-sell” and “neighborhood groups.” You may find a gut-wrenching post about an injured, lost pet or a missing person that grabs your attention. You want to help, so you share the post on your profile. But at some point, the scammer changes the original post to a deceptive rental ad or sometimes a link pointing to a survey that “guarantees” a cash prize. Now, your friends think you have recommended that content. This scheme has many variations, but the common thread is the emotionality or urgency of the message that encourages concerned people to share the news with their friends.