First Facebook message app a scam, says Softpedia

While setting up my PC a few hours ago, I stumbled upon this story about a facebook application being a scam. People today should be aware on what they read and open on various social media sites and be extra cautious because your vital information might leak to unwanted people. 

So here it is. The link

First Facebook message app a scam, says Softpedia

By Karen Boncocan
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 20:27:00 01/06/2011

MANILA, Philippines—Facebook users should be on the look-out for a new scam spreading on the popular social networking site.

According to Softpedia, a new application that promises to find the very first status message posted by user on Facebook is a scam.

Users who fall prey to the Facebook scam found spam messages on their accounts' walls which read: "My first status was -- Sweet I have this now. That was posted on O7/19/2OO8. See your First Status: [link] Click SKIP in the top right."

Softpedia stated that the messages are possibly fake as they use the letter “O” instead of the number zero to indicate dates. They also cited Facecrook's statement that revealed how the advertised link leads to a permission request from an application called "MobileWeb."

The application sends out spam messages using the victim's Facebook friends list, once the application is granted permission to post in the Facebook account.

Installing the rogue application directs the unsuspecting victims to a page that says "Find your first status now!" But the application only promises the fake first status updates after the user has completed one of the survey tests "for security purposes."

Softpedia revealed that the so-called tests try to subscribe the users to certain services or worse, collect users' contact information to send out spam messages. They added that a significant commission is given to scammers for every completed offer.

Facebook scams have victimized many users before after succumbing to promises of details on who viewed their profile or who has blocked them.

Softpedia advised scam victims to resolve the issue by going to Account > Privacy Settings > Apps and Websites to revoke the rogue application's permissions. It said that spam messages can only be deleted manually.