Scam Facebook App Promises To Show You Who Viewed Your Profile--Don't Believe It

On Facebook, we not only want to check up on people we know, we also want to check out who's been checking us out.

There have been petitions to let Facebook users see who viewed their profiles, numerous Yahoo! Answers forums dedicated to whether or not you can uncover who has been clicking through your information, and numerous apps that claim to offer access to a see-who's-been-peering-at-your-profile promised land.

There's yet another scammy new application to watch out for. Like so many others, the ePrivacy app promises to show you who saw your profile. Don't fall for it--installing the app and giving it access to your Facebook profile will not only bring you no closer to spying on your stalkers, but will post a link to the app on your Facebook wall and give the app's creators access to your personal information.

The app has been spreading rapidly on Facebook via the message, "OMG OMG OMG... I cant believe this actually works! Now you really can see who viewed your profile! on http://bit.ly/aFNPAb"

According to Bit.ly, one link to the app has received over 140,000 clicks, although that likely represents only a fraction of the users who have been enticed to check out the app, as other links have also been shared.

Sophos, a security firm that develops software and hardware, explains in a blog post why you should keep your distance: "Scams like this have been used to earn commission for the mischief makers behind them, who have no qualms about using your Facebook profile to spread their spammy links even further. Because if you do continue, you'll find that your profile will be yet another victim of the viral scam - spreading the message to all of your online Facebook friends and family."

See the app below.

Comments

[Harold Martin]

10:33 PM on 12/06/2010

I'm on the verge of deleting my profile on FB. One more goofy story and I'm done.

[Independent4America]

09:32 AM on 12/01/2010

After all the stories in the news I just don't trust FB anymore. FB itself doesn't respect users privacy and its apps are a criminal's potential playground. I hardly use FB anymore because it feels like a trip to the bad side of town when I do.

[Bushwhacked]

04:31 PM on 11/30/2010

Don't use fb. Quit after x number of privacy stories. Don't miss it.

[Chef Dracula]

03:11 PM on 11/30/2010

Some people are just smarter than others.

[NunuDudu]

02:44 PM on 11/30/2010

I don't use FB apps... period.

[venicementor]

02:31 PM on 11/30/2010

Like everything else, FB should be used judiciously!

[3neuticals]

02:15 PM on 11/30/2010

Anything that has "OMG" in the text should be immediately suspect.

[sdcloke]

01:45 PM on 11/30/2010

Speaking for myself, I use FB to repost items that align with my political views and when I do have personal contact I immediately, switch that to email, and not FB email, other than that if someone wants the rest of my BS they are welcome to it, bad credit and all....

[kevinbr38]

02:28 PM on 11/30/2010

My sentiments exactly. If people want to peer into my exchanges go ahead. While they are there, they could deposit some money into my bank account.

[KOisGod]

01:04 PM on 11/30/2010

stay off FB. It's being used against us.

[Cynth Bage]

01:00 PM on 11/30/2010

Years ago, MySpazz got hit with phishers using a "see who looked at your profile" scam. You would think that people would remember this. Anyone dumb enough to fall for this pretty much gets what they deserve.

[mccord82]

12:34 PM on 11/30/2010

One of the worst and most dangerous things about FB is the fact that ppl post pics of their kids with full details about when they're away from the house, and what time they'll be back. A criminal's dream!!!

[BBellay]

01:23 PM on 11/30/2010

Great point about the kids. People are also posting when they'll be traveling, where to and for how long, it's like an open invitation to be robbed.

[maigrey]

03:33 PM on 11/30/2010

Foursquare! I had my daughter turn that thing OFF. There are reasons to use it but not on facebook. I have to use FB to be able to tell clients how to use it, this is a good point on what NOT to do. Will add this to my growing list of do's and don'ts.

[Counterglow]

12:14 PM on 11/30/2010

Facebook isn't completely evil, but if you want the benefits without a lot of the downside, you have to learn a bit. A bit of googling can teach you how to set your security at an appropriate level, turn off ads, and protect yourself from the endless stream of drivel that comes your way if you let it.

The bottom line is still, "if you don't want it seen by the world, don't put it on Facebook", but there's steps short of that which might be acceptable.

[BannedFromCommenting]

11:59 AM on 11/30/2010

So how did it even show up in FACEBOOK APPS??? They let it through! And FYI this is over a week old now, 2 weeks about now.. a little slow techno geeks at HuffPo!

[AlexanderFisher]

11:30 AM on 11/30/2010

I saw this a few weeks ago. Not trusting or liking anything about Facebook apps and games, I avoided it.
I like what Facebook can do for friends. I talk to people I "knew of" in school and consider them friends now. Facebook may be a corporatist plot to steal my personal info for nefarious or marketing reasons (Is that redundant?), but the plus side is it is an excellent social network. Obviously with several flaws. If only someone would prosecute those thieves. But as long as they make big political donations there's little chance of that happening.

[alchemist007]

11:18 AM on 11/30/2010

Ever considered, Facebook itself is a scam?? Nothing else can beat that!

[deezus]

11:58 AM on 11/30/2010

Agreed.

[MoralHumanist]

12:36 PM on 11/30/2010

A database of all peoples information peruse-able with the right 'access' from any computer in the world? Cross referencing friends and family?

It's a NWO dream.