Beware of Robin Williams goodbye video scam

 

Netizens will have to think before they click on supposed goodbye videos of the late actor-comedian Robin Williams, lest they fall victim to an online scam they will not find funny.

 

Security vendor Symantec said Friday (PHL time) that the scamtargets Facebook users, claiming to link to a supposed goodbye video by Williams on a fake BBC webpage.

 

"There is no video. Users that click on the link to the supposed video are taken to a fake BBC News website. As with many social scams, users are required to perform actions before they can view the content. In this case, users are instructed to share the video on Facebook before watching," Symantec security response manager Satnam Narang said in a blog post.

 

He added the scams may have started as early as 48 hours after news about Williams' death broke out.

 

Narang said scammers appeared to "(hone) in on the public’s interest and grief" by offering such a goodbye video.

 

Users who fall for the scam and click on the “Share on Facebook” button are prompted with a share dialog box.

 

"This box misleads users into believing this page has received millions of comments and shares but, actually, scammers have leveraged Facebook Open Graph metadata as a trick," Narang said.

 

"Over the years, scammers have used both real and fake celebrity deaths as a way to convince users to click on links and perform actions. From Amy Winehouse and Paul Walker to the fake deaths of Miley Cyrus and Will Smith, scammers are opportunistic and always looking for ways to capitalize," he reminded the public.

 

He said the scam site will then ask users to install a fake Facebook media plugin - or fill out a survey.

 

"Scammers operating these sites use affiliate programs to earn money for the completion of surveys and file downloads," said Narang, who added Symantec has alerted Facebook about this.

 

He advised the public to be "vigilant and skeptical" when reading sensational stories on social media sites.

 

"Don’t install applications or do surveys in order to view gated content. It's a trick to put money in the pockets of scammers and your computer or device is at risk to malware.

Visit trusted news sources for information. Instead of clicking on random links online, go directly to your trusted news source," he added.

 

Warning

 

A separate report on US-based WWMT-TV said the Better Business Bureau issued a warning about some Internet traffic and the death of Robin Williams.

 

"Basically someone clicks on a link to view information or video about Williams, but instead it tells you to download a player, which is really a virus," it said.

 

In another instance, it said the scam "requires you fill out a survey with personal information."

 

"The Better Business Bureau says if you end up on one of these sites, just leave," it said. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News