Timeline-related scams develop on Facebook
A number of scammers are taking advantage of Timeline backlash by developing pages that include deceptive instructions on how to revert to the old profile. These fraudulent Facebook pages prompt users to click a number of Like buttons, invite friends, watch YouTube videos and download files. Timeline, however, is permanent once a user opts in to try it, and will be mandatory across the site within weeks.
Despite Facebook’s efforts to educate users about the new profile, some people have misconceptions that make them susceptible to scams like these. We have found 16 Timeline-related scam pages, which have collectively gained more than 71,000 likes. The largest, with nearly 19,000 likes, has been around for at least two weeks. These pages are among the top search results when searching Facebook for “timeline.”
The social network has been unable to keep up with the volume of pages that are fraudulent or otherwise in violation of Facebook terms. There are few, if any, preventative measures to keep these pages from being created. The company relies on users to report pages after the fact. Systems prioritize these reports and a team of reviewers respond by removing the page or alerting law enforcement if necessary. With 800 million people using the site, many issues can be resolved this way, but the new crop of Timeline-related scams shows the need for improvement, both in reducing Facebook scams and helping users understand how to protect themselves.
“We work hard to educate users on how to be safe through our blog and the Facebook and Facebook Security pages,” a Facebook spokesperson said. “We regularly update the Facebook Security page and its over 5 million fans with tips and information about new threats. We also work with outside experts on education initiatives.”
As of this writing, the Facebook Security page has not warned users of claims to deactivate Timeline. There is also nothing in the Help Center explicitly telling people that the feature cannot be removed.
Users who find fraudulent pages should use the “Report Page” button on the lower left hand side of the page.
January 3rd, 2012 at 9:08 pm
[...] Inside Facebook алармират, че страници като по-горната не спират да се появяват и да привличат фенове. Те използват различни методи, но едно и също обещание – да ви върнат стария изглед на вашия профил. Това, разбира се, не е възможно, ако вече сте го активирали, а и съвсем скоро абсолютно всички във вашите приятелски кръгове ще го придобият. [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 4:41 am
[...] raport facut public de Facebook pe siteul insidefacebook.com, mai multi scammeri profitand de posibilitatea ca un utilizator Facebook poate sa renunte la noul [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 7:35 am
[...] Umstand nutzen gemäss einem Artikel von insidefacebook.com Scammer grundlich aus. Mittlerweile bestehen diverse Seiten und Applikationen, die dem Benutzer [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 8:39 am
[...] Inside Facebook, Image credit: Eugene [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 9:38 am
[...] The largest, with almost 19,000 likes, has been live for at least two weeks, according to our sibling blog Inside Facebook. [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 10:42 am
[...] das US-Fachportal “Inside Facebook” jetzt berichtete, entdeckten die Redakteure bei einer kurzen Recherche allein 16 Abzock-Seiten zum Thema Timeline [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
[...] covenant from which there is no escape. But for the less tech savvy, scammers have people believing there’s a way back to what you once [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
[...] covenant from which there is no escape. But for the less tech savvy, scammers have people believing there’s a way back to what you once knew. Continue reading [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
[...] covenant from which there is no escape. But for the less tech savvy, scammers have people believing there’s a way back to what you once knew. [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
[...] covenant from which there is no escape. But for the less tech savvy, scammers have people believing there’s a way back to what you once knew. [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
[...] covenant from which there is no escape. But for the less tech savvy, scammers have people believing there's a way back to what you once knew. [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
[...] covenant from which there is no escape. But for the less tech savvy, scammers have people believing there’s a way back to what you once knew. [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
[...] covenant from which there is no escape. But for the less tech savvy, scammers have people believing there’s a way back to what you once knew. [...]
January 4th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
[...] Insidefacebook ได้พบเพจปลอมในชื่อว่า ”Remove The Timeline” [...]
January 5th, 2012 at 2:30 am
[...] //via Inside Facebook. [...]
January 5th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
[...] In Fällen von Scams, Betrügern oder FAkes wird oft schnell gehandelt und nicht lange nachgedacht.via google_ad_client = "pub-0613700178914389"; /* 336×280, Erstellt 24.07.10 */ google_ad_slot = [...]
January 5th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
[...] pessoal do Inside Facebook encontrou 16 páginas fraudulentas ligadas ao assunto “Linha do tempo”, reunindo, ao todo, mais [...]
January 5th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
[...] pessoal do Inside Facebook encontrou 16 páginas fraudulentas ligadas ao assunto “Linha do tempo”, reunindo, ao todo, mais [...]
January 6th, 2012 at 1:30 am
[...] pessoal do Inside Facebook encontrou 16 páginas fraudulentas ligadas ao assunto “Linha do tempo”, reunindo, ao todo, [...]
January 6th, 2012 at 2:01 am
[...] the target of a growing number of Timeline-related scams. As of January 3rd, the watchful folks at Inside Facebook were reporting 16 Timeline-related scam pages which had “collectively gained more than 71,000 [...]
January 6th, 2012 at 3:55 am
[...] to Inside Facebook, the pages have collectively accumulated around 71,000 “Likes,” prompting users to [...]
January 6th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
[...] pessoal do Inside Facebook encontrou 16 páginas fraudulentas ligadas ao assunto “Linha do tempo”, reunindo, ao todo, [...]
January 6th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
[...] change is so unpopular that there are tons of scams offering to revert your profile: A number of scammers are taking advantage of Timeline backlash by developing pages that include [...]
January 6th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
[...] to Inside Facebook, the pages have collectively accumulated around 71,000 “Likes,” prompting users to “invite [...]
January 7th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
[...] to Inside Facebook, the pages have collectively accumulated around 71,000 “Likes,” prompting users to “invite [...]
January 8th, 2012 at 3:00 am
[...] dissatisfaction, and scammers are taking advantage of anti-Timeline sentiment. According to Insidefacebook, scammers are creating pages that assure the public that by “liking” the page, watching [...]
January 9th, 2012 at 9:27 am
[...] More from InsideFaacebook.com We have found 16 Timeline-related scam pages, which have collectively gained more than 71,000 likes. The largest, with nearly 19,000 likes, has been around for at least two weeks. These pages are among the top search results when searching Facebook for “timeline.” [...]
January 9th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
[...] grootste met bijna 19.000 likes is pas 2 weken online volgens de het blog van Facebook. De meeste van deze scam-pagina’s komen bovenaan als je zoekt op ‘timeline’. Een [...]
January 10th, 2012 at 11:27 am
[...] now the new thing is, as reported by Inside Facebook, is Timeline-related scams develop on Facebook: “A number of scammers are taking advantage of Timeline backlash by developing pages that [...]
January 12th, 2012 at 6:57 am
[...] More from InsideFacebook.com We have found 16 Timeline-related scam pages, which have collectively gained more than 71,000 likes. The largest, with nearly 19,000 likes, has been around for at least two weeks. These pages are among the top search results when searching Facebook for “timeline.” [...]
January 20th, 2012 at 8:35 am
[...] Yep, you guessed it: how to delete it. The answer? Sorry, can’t be done, despite what some shifty apps and websites will tell you.But while you can’t remove Timeline from your Facebook account, you can at least make the [...]
January 25th, 2012 at 8:06 am
[...] – und damit prompt in die nächste Falle laufen. Denn schon seit ein, zwei Monaten existieren betrügerische Facebook-Anwendungen, die eine Rückkehr zur alten Profilansicht versprechen. Doch sobald man [...]
January 28th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
[...] eines Artikels von insidefacebook.com Scammer zufolge wird dieser Umstand doch auch gründlich ausgenutzt. Viele Seiten und Applikationen [...]
January 30th, 2012 at 5:00 am
[...] schon jetzt nicht mehr – trotz mehrerer Apps, die das Gegenteil versprechen, die aber nur Malware bringen. Hat man sich einmal für die Chronik entschieden, kann man nicht auf die alte Profilansicht [...]
February 17th, 2012 at 10:17 am
[...] to InsideFacebook, scammers are exploiting the negative sentiments surrounding Timeline by prompting the [...]
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:10 am
[...] pessoal do Inside Facebook encontrou 16 páginas fraudulentas ligadas ao assunto “Linha do tempo”, reunindo, ao todo, mais [...]
February 24th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
[...] the target of a growing number of Timeline-related scams. As of January 3rd, the watchful folks at Inside Facebook were reporting 16 Timeline-related scam pages which had "collectively gained more than 71,000 [...]
April 11th, 2012 at 8:52 am
[...] The largest, with almost 19,000 likes, has been live for at least two weeks, according to our sibling blog Inside Facebook. [...]