Social Media Blog

Sharing Information & Knowledge

By

Facebook Gift Cards Introduced

English: Assortment of gift cards

English: Assortment of gift cards (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Facebook’s newest e-commerce idea: A gift card users can buy for each other that can be spent at retailers and restaurants including Target, Jamba Juice and Olive Garden.

The company is building on the gifts service it introduced last fall. That lets people send chocolate, flowers and other real-life goods to their Facebook friends.

Facebook Inc. said Thursday that the reusable card will be available to U.S. users gradually.

By

Free Subway gift card spam spreading on Facebook

Sophos  received a number of questions from Facebook fans of Sophos regarding messages that have spread across the social network claiming to offer a $100 gift card for the Subway sandwich chain.

Here’s a typical message:

Subway Facebook message

Free Subway Gift Cards - Limited Time

Get Your Free Subway Gift Card Now! Click for Details

So, what’s going on here? Well, the first thing to realise is that it’s not something endorsed by Subway.

Although the link you click through to has no qualms about using Subway’s logo, and images of meals you can purchase at Subway, it’s actually from an independent third party company.

Subway gift card webpage

Many people will probably be so keen to receive $100 worth of Subway meals that they won’t read the small print at the bottom of the page:

The above listed merchants or brands in no way endorse or sponsor FreeGiftCardSon.us's offer and are not liable for any alleged or actual claims related to this offer. The above listed trademarks and service marks are the marks of their respective owners.

FreeGiftCardSon.us is solely responsible for all Gift fulfillment. In order to receive your gift you must: (1) Meet the eligibility requirements (2) complete the rewards bonus survey (3) complete a total of 5 Sponsor Offers as stated in the Gift Rules (4) not cancel your participation in more than a total of 2 Sponsor Offers within 30 days of any Sponsor Offer Sign-Up Date as outlined in the Gift Rules (the Cancellation Limit) and (5) follow the redemption instructions.

The pages ask you some simple and apparently harmless questions: are you male or female, which age group do you fall into, etc.. before asking for your email address.

Subway gift card spam wants your email address

At this point the page tells you that you must post the message onto your Facebook page in order to qualify for the free $100 Subway gift card.

In this way the message is spread virally to your Facebook friends.

But there’s still no sign of your free Subway gift card, because the site now wants you to hand over much more personal information, including your name, address, email address, full date of birth, cellphone and telephone number etc.

Form asks for your personal details

Again, notice that the webpage doesn’t seem to have any issue with using the Subway logo – despite not being affiliated with Subway. Clearly this is done in an attempt to trick Facebook users into believing that they are talking directly to the high street brand.

According to the small print, you’ll have to complete multiple “sponsor offers” before they will even consider sending you a gift card – which may cost you both in time and money, but also the sheer treasure trove of personal information you will have handed over.

Sophos advice? Avoid these “offers” as they’re unlikely to ever prove fruitful, and may result in you handing over a wealth of data about yourself to complete strangers. When you agree to post a message about such gift cards on Facebook, you are putting your online friends at risk of having their privacy damaged too.

Source :- http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com

  • WIN A $50 Gift card to Earth Fare! (agourmetcupboard.wordpress.com)
  • AMP 150 $25 Gift Card Giveaway (agourmetcupboard.wordpress.com)
  • Win a $100 CVS/pharmacy Gift Card and Taylor Swift’s Album! (ellen.warnerbros.com)
  • Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card Today Only! (blisstree.com)
  • Ask The Readers: Do You Buy In Bulk? (wisebread.com)
  • Gift cards are so impersonal. (ask.metafilter.com)
  • Plum District, get at $10 Target gift card today! (wholesomedeals.wordpress.com)
  • Plum District: FREE $20 Target Gift Card – HURRY (alaskasbestgrocerydeals.blogspot.com)
  • Hipsters Are Destroying New York, Claims Subway Rag (theawl.com)
  • Free Subway gift card spam spreading on Facebook (nakedsecurity.sophos.com)
Close