A viral post is saying that “16 people are confirmed dead in a roller coaster accident that occurred at Universal Studios in Florida,” but it’s fake and is just a scam that could potentially install a rogue app in your Facebook account.
More of the post says,“Fox Breaking News - [Shocking Video Footage] - 16 people are confirmed dead in a roller coaster accident that occurred at Universal Studios in Florida. The roller coaster appeared to have suffered a mechanical breakdown causing it to veer off the tracks in mid air plummetting all 24 passangers into the ground.”
However, there’s no video, and the message directs users to a website that looks like Facebook but asks users to share it before going further. Some variants of it will ask users to download a rogue Facebook app that will replicate instances of it on your Facebook newsfeed.
It could also send users to a page that has surveys that deliver no video but try to get personal information. Or even worse, it could spread malicious software.
It’s recommended that you remove the app from your Facebook account. It’s also recommended to delete any instances of the post from your Facebook wall and “unlike” it.
Make sure you’re logged into your Facebook account and go to your Facebook application settings. It will list all the applications that you have given access to.
Go below and click the “X” on the right side of the app in order to remove it. Some of the fake scam apps use names like “CNN,” “Fox News,” or “YouTube” to trick users.
More detailed instructions on how to delete the post is located here.
Friends Read Free