Paul Walker is dead, and a new scam on Facebook tells people to click on a link to check out “disturbing” and “gory” videos of the crash. But the links are for rogue apps.
Once the user clicks on a link to the purported video, they are directed to a page where a rogue app requests permission to access the user’s Facebook account, reported security researcher Graham Cluley.
If the user permits the access, they are taken to a webpage that “poses as a tabloid celeb news site, claiming to have the graphic video,” writes Cluley.
“But first they want you to download a media player, and perhaps complete an online survey.
“Hold it right there! You should never install software from unknown sources, and there has been a long history of scammers using sensational content to drive Facebook users into taking money-making surveys (often by signing-up unsuspecting participants into premium rate mobile phone services).”
And what’s even worse: because you granted permission to the rogue app, it may have posted the same message about the purported video, trying to draw your Facebook connections into clicking, giving permission, and downloading the media player.
Here’s an example of one of the initial messages.
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