Facebook is warning its users to beware of a new type of spam on their timelines.
The social networking site and the Washington state Attorney General are suing a Delaware company saying it's ripping people off.
It's called "like-jacking"-- drawing Facebook users to the popular "Like" feature, and then enticing them to click onto websites that can lead to identity and credit card theft.
According to Facebook officials, this is how it works: you notice an intriguing post on your Facebook page that a "friend" supposedly "likes" and has sent to you.
The post looks genuine, but it's a bogus type of spam that leads you to online surveys or products.
The Washington Attorney General's office joined with Facebook to sue a Delaware company called “Adscend Media", an online marketing company, saying, “this company is misleading you, the user, the consumer-- into thinking that you are getting a message from a friend. And in fact, that is an advertisement."
Assistant Attorney General Paula Selis says the company lures you into giving your personal information and ordering products it never intends to send.
Then, she says, it takes another step by sending similar "like" messages-- supposedly from you-- to all your friends.
"That is a scam," she said.
Facebook says it is devising a fix, but admits it's difficult to stay ahead of what Selis calls an internet scam. "It's truly an arms race. And often legal action trails technology."
Attorney General Rob Mc Kenna says Facebook users are especially vulnerable because they are inclined to trust messages that appear to come from their friends.
"Trust your instincts before you click,” he said. “If it doesn't really look like something that your friend would send to you--it doesn't contain any introductory language-- you might want to check with them before clicking."
"Adscend Media" has not replied when asked for comment.
The Attorney General's office doesn't know how many people have been victims of this type of scam.
Story by Amy Clancy, CNN
