Update – May 2019
A new version of this scam is currently beings shared on Facebook. You can read more about the new version here:
‘Disney World 5 Free Tickets Per Family’ Facebook Giveaway Scam
Original Report
Supposedly, a ‘Disney World’ Facebook Page that is being heavily promoted across the network is giving users a chance to win 5 tickets for a 7 day Disney World vacation with 5-star accommodation, park passes, and $2000 cash.
It also advises people to like the Page to access announcements about winners.
However, the Facebook Page is fraudulent and has no connection to Disney. And, no prizes are being given away. The scammers have managed to fool Facebook’s Page naming system by putting a period after the Page name. Via this simple ruse, the scammers can create a fake Page that includes the name of the targeted company. Many people will not even notice the period at the end of the name.
In fact, the Page is a typical like-farming scam. The intent of those responsible is to accumulate as many Page likes as possible in the shortest possible time. By offering attractive – albeit non-existent – prizes, the scammers are able to trick many Facebook users into participating.
Each time a user likes, shares, and comments, the Page’s scam messages are distributed further across Facebook. Via this ruse, such a Page can gather thousands of likes within just a few hours or days.
Facebook Pages with high numbers of likes are a lucrative commodity to online criminals. After the initial like-farming scams have been run, the Page can be reused to launch survey scams or other types of fraudulent activity, this time to a much larger potential audience.
Alternatively, the Page can be sold to other scammers via an active black market.
This example is just one in a long series of very similar Disney like-farming and survey scams.
Be wary of any Facebook Page or post that claims that you can win expensive prizes just for liking and sharing.
Example
Celebrating Disney World’s 50th year anniversary we’re giving 150 people the chance to win 5 tickets each for a 7 day vacation in a 5 star resort with fast passes to all parks & $2,000 cash.
To enter just Share & Like. (Comment to double chances).
Winners will be drawn on 14th April. Like our page for announcements.