As I write this blog today, a number of fabulous offers are spreading on Twitter, Facebook, and the Internet. They promise you a free Apple iPad, a free $1,000 IKEA gift card, and other incredible presents to lure people in search of a bargain. For that matter, we can read that the IKEA gift card scam took in nearly 40,000 Facebook users on April 12, and a similar offer fooled 70,000 victims in March.

Be careful: All these offers are fake. They exist only to collect personal data–your name, address, and e-mail–for future spam campaigns. They also take you to various lottery websites, where you are tempted to deposit funds for playing online instant and scratch games. I followed about 10 such offers; they all end in the same websites chosen according your country. Once there, you do not see any trace of the initial proposal (the iPad or gift card). To keep your interest, various windows and pop-ups announce numerous winners. To join them you need only an account and deposit some money.

For sure, these offers lure many people. Since the beginning of this dishonest advertising campaign, traffic to these dubious online casinos has shot up.

As I searched for an explanation, I contacted an employee via a chat window. I explained I was always redirected by these dubious advertising offers (the your-free-apple-ipod  URL, for example) to their casino after I gave my contact details. Of course, the person responding did not give me any explanation. “Are you interested by our games?” she asked. “Please register, we will offer you 5 euros. Otherwise, have a good day.” And she ended with a smile.

In France, online casino games are less numerous and less frequented than in the United States; but interest in these spare-time activities in increasing. From the both sides of the ocean, I recommend you limit yourself to well-known and registered institutions.

View full post on McAfee Avert Labs

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