Scam links spread on Messenger offering 5 cartons of Marlboro cigarettes

ByCraig Haley

Links sent primarily through Facebook Messenger claim the recipient can win 5 free cartons of Marlboro cigarettes.

FALSE

The links, which will appear to have come from Facebook friends, will claim you can win 5 free cartons of Marlboro cigarettes if you click a WIN NOW or CONTINUE button attached to the link. An example of such a link can be seen below.

Click WIN NOW & get 5 free Marlboro Cartons
Get 5 free Carton of Cigarettes to celebrate 100th Anniversary.

Unlike other fake promotion scams we often warn about where links are shared on the timelines of those that try to enter, in this instance the spammy links are being circulated primarily through Facebook Messenger, meaning the links may appear to have come from friends.


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The scammers are tricking Facebook users into forwarding the same link to their friends, which may make the fake offer appear more legitimate.

Such scams are designed to harvest personal information from those who fall for the scam, allowing spammers to spam them or sell their information to other marketing companies.

There are no free cartons of cigarettes available to win and the competition has nothing to do with Marlboro.

We strongly advise Facebook users don’t click on these links and if you receive one from a friend, simply ignore or delete it.

Is it hackers or have I been hacked?

There is no indication at this point that passwords have been stolen or any “hacking” has occurred. The scam is orchestrated by spammers who trick Facebook users into forwarding a link using social engineering tricks.

Is it a virus?

Again there is no indication that this scam involves the downloading of malicious software onto a victim’s device. If you feel that you agreed to download software onto your device, run an anti-virus scan straight away.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest cybersecurity threats and our tips to stay safe online. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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