Online Scams

For any online activity it's always good to be aware of the pitfalls. I've noticed for the past few weeks that I've been getting these strange messages on my Twitter account. People I've followed have been sending me messages with a personal message and a shortened hyperlink included. When the link is clicked on it brings up a page which can't be found - most likely because my Antivirus program has blocked it thankfully. I did a Google search and found this informative article on this very topic...

Watch out for These Direct Messages in your Twitter Stream

Have you noticed the number of Twitter Direct Messages that you are receiving that contain a strange personal message? Over the last couple of months the number of these messages has increased and just as worrying the actual messages themselves keep changing.

These are Direct Messages that are apparently from someone that you are following as they are in your Direct Messages.

Messages such as :

This video with you in it had me dying lol

This must be you…

lmao…omg i am laughing so hard at this pic of me my friend found

ROFLMAO i can’t stop laughing at this pic of you

lmao…omg i am laughing so hard at this pic u i just found

haha i cant stop laughing, your facial expression here is priceless!

lmao this video of you is funny as hell, im sharing it with everyone

haha i cant stop laughing, your facial expression here is priceless!

when did you make this video? its hilarious, cant stop laughing lol

This made me laugh so hard when i saw this about you lol

I saw a real bad blog about you, you seen this?

Read this yet? horrible blog going around about you

Someone is posting nasty updates on their twitter about you, heres the posts they’ve been making

I know who has a secret crush on you here on twitter! i promised i wouldnt tell..you must go here  . . . . to find out

You seen what this person is saying about you? . . . .  terrible things..

Hey, so some real nasty things are being said about you here …..  i cant believe what was said..

~ ~ ~ ~

If you were to click on the shortened link then you (hopefully) would be lucky and be blocked by your anti-virus package from a site that is probably loaded with either viruses or malware.

This is a timely reminder that your PC (or Mac) should have up-to-date virus and malware protection (I recommend the latest Norton) and for everyone (Mac users included) DO NOT click on shortened links unless you have a pretty good idea where they will take you or who has sent them.

This is why the bad guys are hacking Twitter accounts and sending these spoof messages as the unwary may think these messages are from a friend.

So be a social media friend and send an open message to the Twitter user whose account was the source of the message. Please tell them to change their password urgently as they have probably been hacked – it is the least you can do.

Please don’t use the word “hacked” as from my experience you’ll get a lot of messages yourself then, instead use something like “h+cked”
PS So just how secure is your Twitter or Facebook password?

Reference: http://www.ianhardacre.com/watch-out-for-these-messages-in-your-twitter-stream/