A viral Facebook post that says “Robin Williams Says Goodbye with his Cell Phone Video Before Suicide” is nothing more than a scam.
The post emerged after Williams reportedly committed suicide earlier this week.
When one clicks on the post, which promises a video, they’re taken to a fake BBC-looking website that asks one to share it first. After that, they’re presented with surveys, which is how the scammers behind the whole thing make their money.
There’s no actual video of Williams speaking in the camera before killing himself.
Facebook recommends that users “think before you click” and share. ““Never click suspicious links, even if they come from a friend or a company you know. This includes links sent on Facebook (ex: in a chat or story) or in emails. If one of your friends clicks a spam link, they could accidentally send you or tag you in spammy posts. You also shouldn’t download things (ex: a .exe file) if you aren’t sure what they are,” it says.
Some versions of the scam might force one to download malware or plugins.
“These suspect surveys will try to get you to provide your personal information or sign up to extremely expensive SMS ’services’. The information you provide will be shared with unscrupulous Internet marketers and may later be used to inundate you with unwanted phone calls, emails, and junk mail,” says Hoax-Slayer. “Meanwhile, the scammers will receive commissions via dodgy affiliate marketing schemes each time you participate in a survey or offer. And, no matter how many surveys you fill in, you will never get to see the promised goodbye video, which never existed to begin with.”
