Rumors that Facebook will start charging are as old as the social network itself, but recently the stories have taken on new life. Just don’t believe what you hear… or read on a friend’s wall.
How the Scam Works:
You spot a friend’s post in your newsfeed saying that Facebook will start charging users a monthly fee. The latest version claims a new pricing structure will have different membership tiers, including a “gold” level for $9.99 per month. However, the post says, you can avoid any fees by just sharing the message. Post it on your wall, and your “icon will turn blue.” This color change will exempt you from the new charges. Of course, that won’t happen, and neither will these new fees.
Several versions of this scam are making the rounds:
The posts above are really more of an annoying hoax than an actual scam. The scam comes in when users, infuriated by the rumors, visit and/or join Facebook “protest” groups. These pages have been known to contain viruses. Be extra careful of any links, Facebook applications or requests to download files/software on such pages.
I’ve Found a Fake Facebook Post. What Should I Do?
- Tell your friend! These posts circulate because users think they are doing their friends a favor by sharing them. Refer your friends to Facebook’s common myths page for confirmation.
- If the message looks like spam, report it to Facebook. Check out Facebook Help Center’s scam page for details.
For More Information:
Visit Facebook’s Help Center for information about common scams and advice for avoiding them.
