New Facebook scam offers free Amazon.com gift cards

Another Facebook scam threatens to hook in members of the social networking giant, this time claiming to offer free gift cards from online retailer Amazon.com.   Computer security firm Sophos said the cybercriminals behind the new scam offer a link supposedly to a free Amazon.com gift card.   "When you see one of your friends share a link like this with you, the truth is that they have been duped into a scam. Be careful not to make the same mistake as them, or you'll just be helping put cash into the pockets of the bad guys," it said in a blog post.   Sophos said clicking on the link will take the prospective victim to a webpage on a third-party website.   The website encourages the victim to re-share the link, and add a comment, before it will allow access to the so-called special deal.   "If you follow the page's instructions you will be taken to another webpage, (such as one that) encourages you to sign up for a premium rate mobile phone service which could end up hurting you in the pocket," it said.   Worse, the scammers usually earn affiliate cash by driving traffic to sites like this, Sophos said.   Sophos said one warning sign about the supposed gift card is that it is offering a whopping $500.   It advised those who fell for this or similar scams to check their Facebook pages to ensure they are not spreading any messages these links to their online friends.   Also, it advised them to ensure they have revoked any Facebook applications, events and "like"d pages they are uncomfortable with. — TJD, GMA News