The suspicious Facebook ad that’s too good to be true… and can leave you penniless
- Facebook scammers trick users into buying a £3 discount train ticket
Scammers have lured unsuspecting Facebook users with a £3 offer that is too good to be true.
Users will have the chance to get their hands on a Network Train Card for the same price as a cup of coffee in the morning.
But while the apparent bargain seems attractive, which one? revealed that these ads were designed by fraudsters to steal financial information from victims.
Once you click on the ad, you will be redirected to another website and instructed to play a quiz where you will undoubtedly win the train card – just like any other target.
Scammers have lured unsuspecting Facebook users with a £3 offer that’s too good to be true
Once you click on the ad, you will be redirected to another website and instructed to play a quiz where you will undoubtedly win the train card – just like any other target
And before the innocent click leads you to your ‘win’, you’re met with several fake customer reviews, trying to get you to part with your £3.
Among the reviews, there are those who describe the train ticket offer as ‘great’.
But the real moment of deception happened when users were asked to enter their credit or debit card information.
Not only will users lose their £3, they will also have their banking details compromised, leaving them out of pocket for hundreds of pounds.
Which? Consumer law expert Lisa Webb explained: ‘Consumers should be wary of scam ads on Facebook falsely claiming that Network Rail is giving away 150 travel tickets’.
She continued: “Clicking on these ads will take you to an untrustworthy website that asks you to provide your name and location, complete a survey and then enter your bank details to request a payment of £ 3 to do to cover the shipping costs for the travel card.
“You don’t receive the travel card and you’re out £3, but what’s even more worrying is that the information you provided could later be used to scam you.”
Which? have already reported the ads to Facebook.
But the consumer champion company urges you to take action on Facebook, Action Fraud or the police if you eventually fall prey to these tactical scams.
To report the scam, click the three dots on the ad and select “report” on Facebook.
Have you seen this Facebook scam before? Let us know in the comments below.