How I participated in a Social Media Scam

Posted by Natasha D'Souza on Feb 16, 2010 in Blog, Facebook | 2 comments

At 4:30pm this afternoon I started down the path to participate in a social media scam. Here’s how it came about….

I was trolling Facebook looking for the latest example of a corporate Facebook Page that had a contest. No sooner had I started I saw a status update from one of my friends.

Well the iPad is a hot topic especially that it’s not available in Canada and people seem very divided about it’s usefulness. Eager to capture the screen shots I happily clicked away. I was led to the Test it & Keep it Apple iPad Facebook Page.

So focused was I on getting the screenshots that I failed to do the appropriate due diligence that I normally go through and Fanned the page right away.

I scrolled further down to follow the directions.

Step 2 was to invite your friends, a standard Fb contest step.

I did poke around on the main page though and found this.

Sure it’s fine and I went ahead and clicked on 30 people that I thought would find this interesting, thought that the iPad was not that great, etc. The thoughts that went through my mind was wow great marketing plan get people to spread this virally by forcing them to add 30 people!!

So I finally continue to step 3 where I register.

Next was the standard contest question. At this point I was thinking, amazing job with the branding, keep it simple and slick just like the Apple sight!!

It had the 16+ in big and I skipped over the fine print. I did notice the Canada logo thinking that is a program for Canadians; after all we still can’t get the iPad here.

This is where I stopped. Why do you care about my service provider and my mobile number? Yes it’s to give me a pin. I am getting suspicious at this point so I stop to poke around the Fb Page some more.

The Info. states clearly that this is for Market Research. Well at this point I am feeling very generous and why not help out those market research companies.

PIN here I come

At this point a friend alerts me via Fb that

Yes I am all for market research and helping those companies make better products. I then continue after this interruption.

A peek at the #of Fans

Well that’s a good number.

Another interruption via Fb mail. A skeptical friend stating that another Fb app taking friends info. Of course I am so righteous that I respond why I picked this individual and that if they won it would be great for the online community that they will build for the winners, well every good marketing company doesn’t just give away the prize but builds another micro site to then get feedback from the winners. They wouldn’t just say why it was good but give reasons why it sucks, how cool is that for better product development.

I then continue to look at the Terms and Conditions.

Well it states that it’s not affiliated with Apple.

In the meantime I Fb mailed the market research guru friend for an opinion, market research or scam?

My other friend proceeds to state that they still feel that it’s a scam. So I respond that I felt that way but not too sure and would participate to figure out if it was great marketing or just a scam.

So investigating further I take a look at the Wall.

And that is where I stop. If there are so many fans then why aren’t they saying anything? Why aren’t there any more wall posts by the market research company? Why no logo for the company?

Finally I take a look at the fine print but where could it be? The back button lead to it.

My earlier scan drew my eye to the 16+ therefore I totally missed the “Subscription service $2 per question”

Had I read that I would have been alerted to the fact that it was a scam.

At this point the market research guru responds with

“Market research does not do contests; marketers may.

If there is a prize draw as an incentive this is done fact the fact and with strict rules (in many cases these are governed by provincial lottery rules)

If you are asked to pay anything. Even a token sum, then ANY contest is a lottery & regulated as such.

For things like product tests, sure they give you shampoo to use & test it, but not expensive stuff that you haven’t rubbed all over yourself

I fear, but have no proof, that it is a scam.”

So there you have it.

Well I was this far in so why not see what happens next in this scam.

I enter my phone and get a text a few seconds later.

Find PIN @ end of msg.

Enter 4 a chance to WIN!

Trivia subscription

$2/Ques, 4Qs/wk, Info

skill2thrill.com, 2 end txt

STOP. Ur PIN: xxxx

The text with the PIN was followed immediately by a skill-testing question

Next Q: How big is the

touchscreen on the new

Apple iPad? 1:9.7inches

or 2:3.5 inches. TEst 1 or

2 to 33456 now!

This was followed by another text

Great! Ur chance to win

starts now! Answer the

questions, and remember!

more correct answers =

more chance of winning!

Help:18666700126

I text the correct answer to the number provided.

I receive a response

Yes! Correct answer! : -)

Next Q will be sent later

this week! More correct

answers = more chance to

win! (2$/Q) Info: 18666700126

I checked my mobile bill and true to the Terms and Conditions I was charged for the text. The $2 charge does not show up yet and I will look out for it and let you know where it shows up.

Let’s do some basic math.  There are 97,470 Fans. Say they each answered one question. Then the “Market Research” company in question should have made a whopping $194,940 in a very short amount of time!!!

Should I wait for the 3 other questions or just call it a day? After all it’s just $8 for the chance to win an iPad for market research purposes!!!

So there you have it folks, I have been SOIAL MEDIA SCAMMED!!!

Now it’s back to finding a great Facebook Page legit marketing example. Come across any?

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