Outline
Message being distributed on Facebook claims that users can win one of two BMW 435i luxury cars just by liking, sharing and commenting on a promotional image.
Brief Analysis
The message is a scam and no BMW 435i’s are being given away as claimed. The message and the associated Facebook Page is just one more in a series of like-farming scams that have falsely promised BMW’s and other high-end vehicles in exchange for liking, sharing and commenting. The scam is designed to trick users into liking the scam page and further promoting it via shares and comments. Pages with high like-numbers can later be sold on the black market or used for further spam and scam campaigns.
Example
We are giving 2 BMW 435i On April 15 , 2014
2 Lucky Winners Will Be Announced On April 15
Step 1) Like this post
Step 2) Comment which color you want.
Step 3) share on your wall
Good Luck to everyone !
Detailed Analysis
According to a message that is currently being distributed rapidly across Facebook, users can win a BMW 435i just by liking the message, stating via a comment what colour car they would like if they win, and sharing the post on their walls. The post includes a photograph depicting one of the vehicles tied up with a red ribbon.
The message points back to a ‘BMW lovers’ Facebook Page, which is supposedly giving away the cars.
However, the message is a like-farming scam. The Page is not giving away BMW 435i’s as claimed. The post is just an attempt to manipulate Facebook users into promoting the Page and thereby artificially inflating its like numbers and popularity.
In fact, this is just one in a recent series of Facebook like-farming scams that have falsely claimed to be giving away BMW’s and other high-end cars in exchange for liking, sharing or commenting.
Such bogus prize draws can be a very effective method of promoting a particular Page or service. Sharing, liking and commenting ensure that a fake prize post is distributed widely across the network, thereby earning the associated scam page many new visitors and likes.
After they have used such underhand tactics to garner popularity, the unscrupulous operators can use the Pages to engage in further spamming and scamming, this time to a significantly wider audience. In some cases, the now popular pages may be sold for hefty fees via the black market.
While companies often conduct legitimate prize promotions on Facebook, such promotions will likely have detailed terms and conditions of entry and will clearly state which entity is giving away the prizes and is responsible for running the competition.
Be very wary of any Facebook message that claims that you can win an expensive item such as a car solely by liking, sharing or commenting. If you encounter such a like-farming scam message, do not click any links it contains. Do not like, share or comment on the post.
Original Source : https://www.hoax-slayer.net/bmw-435i-giveaway-like-farming-scam/