When “Link Baiting” Becomes a New Tactic…
Surely, Facebook users are no longer unfamiliar with the form of link baiting. By using clickbait content, view-baiting phrases, and enticing images, these tactics cunningly embed malicious links into posts, comments, and images… to lure viewers in. This practice will contribute to enhancing interactions with “special” websites, especially if it leads to Facebook users potentially having their accounts hacked, their privacy invaded, and their personal information leaked in just a moment of carelessness.
Moreover, over time, Facebook has started to tighten control over advertisements, especially restricting access to malicious links. Yet, now appears a new form of scams that can trick Facebook users into clicking without realizing they are being scammed.
Specifically, these are deceptive fanpages disguised as legitimate pages, created under the guise of helping users find trending images/videos. A typical example is shown below:
It can be seen that this website is primarily posting to “lure” users into clicking, aiming to search for feedback as “bait” – which might not be true on real online sales platforms. Thus, instead of just using controversial content as before, these deceptive fanpages now embed links directly into posts, making it easier for users to access.
Consequences of Malicious Links, and Facebook’s Warning Signals?
Anyone can recognize whether feedback links are reliable or not. Just clicking on a malicious link can lead to the social media account of the user being compromised in an instant.
Looking at the broader picture, it becomes clear that this form of scam is more sophisticated than the previous “link baiting” methods. The reason lies in the fact that this form of manipulation strikes at the emotional state of users, who are often in need of searching for specific information, particularly in trending games and online technology events.
Therefore, we need to remain vigilant against this new type of scam to avoid falling victim. Meanwhile, Facebook also needs to tighten its control measures, especially regarding advertising posts. The existence and public operation of deceptive fanpages like this not only affect user experience but also undermine the credibility of the platforms.
