CHICAGO –– Social media is used as a fun distraction for some people, and taking a Facebook quiz may seem like a harmless way to pass the time,. But are you giving away more information than you think? Better Business Bureau says “yes.”
Not all social media quizzes are data collection scams; however, BBB cautions users to be careful about what they share online and check the account’s privacy settings.
“Specific, personal information about you is a gold mine for con artists,” said Steve J. Bernas, president, and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Social media data and quiz answers can be used to steal identity or enable a scammer to impersonate you to your friends and family.”
This is how the scam works.
A fun quiz pops up on your Facebook feed or another social media platform. A few questions are answered to prove how well you know a friend. Or there might be short personality test is offered to match a character from a favorite TV show.
These quizzes appear to be meaningless, but they intend to collect information.
For example, you may be asked questions such as: “What was the first car you owned?” “What is your mother’s maiden name?” or “What is the name of the street you grew up on?”
These are common security questions for insurance, banking, and credit card accounts. Sharing…
