Tag: facebook

Facebook Scam Report from Consumer Reports

Joe AuBuchon

My new (June 2018) issue of Consumer Reports arrived in the mail today. One of the featured articles is: Protect Yourself From These 7 Scams (p.26) by Mary C. Hickey. I thought some of you might be interested in the following scam involving Facebook users.

Facebook ‘Like’ Farming

Quite often we click the “thumbs-up” button, add a comment and/or even “share” the posting. Could that hurt? Evidently, it could.

You (I) could be (become) a victim of “like-farmng.” This is a post designed to draw the kind of attention that will continue ensure that it shows up in more and more people’s news feeds.

Once a high enough number of likes/shares has been reached the creators of the page change its content. The new content could be an ad for a business that really does not exist or the usual to-good-to-be-true product that you can purchase online.

It would seem that we must be ever more careful of what we like and share on Facebook.

Other scams reported (and how to avoid falling for them):

  • Smishing and Spoofing
  • Shimmer Scams
  • Tech-Support Fraud
  • White Label Ticket Scams
  • Ransomware
  • Online Charity Scams
  • IRS Imposters
  • Home Repairs and Security Checks
  • Grandparents Scam
  • Lotteries and Sweepstakes

There is also page on “Tracking Down the Crooks” about reporting scams, recourse and possible restitution.

Mist and Smoke "Resting"
Mist and Smoke “Resting”

Picture of the Day — Question

Joe AuBuchon
English Summer 2
English Summer 2

How about we reserve a day on Facebook for positive thoughts and no negative or political posts?

I vote for Sunday.

I will, therefore, neither post nor share any further items having to deal with what I perceive as politics — on Sunday. I believe that I will also include liking, disliking or commenting on your posts/shares or those of others (regardless of whether I agree or disagree with them).

I have friends who are conservative; I have friends who are liberal. Some of them I consider reactionary and some I consider revolutionary. Some I consider just plain nuts — as, I assume, they also consider me (I am nuts, but that’s beside the point.). Let’s all just agree to disagree — and, if someone really offends us, take a walk around the block or have a drink . . . and, if you really need a drink, come on over — I’ve got plenty to go around.

Just a Quick Thought

Joe AuBuchon

I just did my morning Facebook check before launching into my CWPs and math puzzles.

A friend of mine posted a LIKE to a photo from the “Peaceful Warrior.”

I believe that this is a reflection of why we have so much trouble with violence and war, and why we cannot seem to stop hurting and killing each other.

For Example:

  • Peaceful Warrior
  • Love is the weapon . . .
  • Holy War
  • Love is a Battlefield
  • Onward Christian Soldiers – from followers of a man who preached love and turning the other cheek

Human beings have extensive skills with regard to pattern recognition. We see pictures in clouds and ink blots. We connect dot-to-dot puzzles. We see oases in deserts far from any source of water, and we see bears and crabs wandering the night skies.

I wonder, is the pattern I see in our brains that is reflected in our words real or is it just another mirage?

. . . just a thought . . .