Beware of scam links claiming Brad Pitt killed himself

ByCraig Haley

A range of links are spreading across social media claiming that Hollywood actor Brad Pitt has committed suicide.

The links are often accompanied by ‘RIP’ graphics featuring the famous actors face.

However, despite these claims, Brad Pitt is still very much alive. The links seem to be part of a coordinated spam campaign targeting naïve social media users who are willing to click any link they see on social media to get their breaking news.

Some example headlines can be seen below –

TOP STORIES – Brad Pitt decides to end his life (SUICIDE) after the divorce with Angelina Jolie (EX-WIFE) More shocking updates revealed.

FOX BREAKING NEWS – BRAD PITT Found dead (SUICIDE)

Many of the graphics have included the recognisable logos of well-known news sources such as Fox or NBC to lure the visitor into believing that the links are associated with these well-known entities.

However, they are most certainly not, and many of the links lead to rogue Facebook apps, which will ask the visitor to install them once clicked.

The rogue Facebook apps may also appear to be representing a legitimate source. On one of the links we clicked purporting Pitt’s apparent suicide, we were taken to an app called NBC News which wanted us to install it.


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However rogue Facebook apps can be dangerous. If given permission, they can post spammy, annoying links from your Facebook account, or even send out chat messages disguised as you. They can also lure you to external websites that may try and install dangerous malware onto your computer. That’s most definitely not a good thing.

Earlier scams claimed that Angelina Jolie killed herself and purporting to show her video suicide note.

Please, don’t get your news from suspicious links on social media. If you want to verify a story, head directly to your trusted news source, and NEVER install Facebook apps or any type of software to get your breaking news fix.

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