Facebook 'Dislike' Button Offer A Scam

Facebook users have been urged not to click on a link claiming to offer a "dislike" button. The link scams users to get access to their Facebook account.

Dislike Link is Not Endorsed by Facebook

There is an official "Like" function on Facebook. It allows users to give a virtual 'thumbs up' to comments or news posted by their friends. The function has now been extended so that third-party websites can publish a "Like button" on their sites: when visitors click the button, their Facebook account automatically posts a link to the relevant page. A common use is to allow readers to share a link to an article in an online magazine, or simply promote a brand.

While there is no official "dislike" button, a company named FaceMod has created an add-on feature that produces a button next to the "like button" when a user sees a page. It only works for the Firefox browser and is purely a novelty tool as only the user sees the button and the resulting "You dislike this" comment.

Bogus Links Offer "Official" Button

There is now a message circulating on Facebook claiming to be from "The Official Dislike Button". If users click on the link they will be prompted to install an application with that title, and asked for permission for the app to access their data and post to their wall. This request is displayed as part of Facebook's recent attempt to make users more aware of the risks involved in giving applications such access. (Source: sophos.com)

If the user does go ahead and install the application, they are asked to complete an online survey (earning the scammers a commission fee) before being pointed to the FaceMod page. There is no allegation that FaceMod has any connection whatsoever with the scam itself; instead, the concept of its Firefox add-on is being used by the scammers, without permission, as a way of attracting attention.

Scammers Turn Spammers

So far, it appears the only thing the application actually does is post a link on the user's site suggesting friends install it as well. Of course, even if only a small proportion of people do so, the fact that the link appears to all of each user's Facebook friends means that it could spread quickly.

The most likely explanation is that the scammers are aiming to build up a long list of Facebook accounts they can sell to rogue marketing firms. (Source: bbc.co.uk)