Win a free iPad – how to stay safe from the scams

News that Facebook shut down more “free iPad” scam groups shows there’s no shortage of scams and no shortage of folks getting duped. Tomas Mowlam shows you how to stay safe.

We’ve all seen those Facebook groups offering a free iPad, and surprise, surprise, they were a scam. The old maxim that if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is, held out.

The page asked people to become a fan, promising a free iPad for testing. It then asked them to invite friends before “claiming your prize”, which involved putting in your own mobile number that signed you up to a premium rate service.

The scammers undoubtedly took a cut, and once again the hype for something new meant that plenty of people got scammed.

For one the iPad isn’t even out in stores yet so the chances of any company having them to give away are tiny, but plenty of people get lured into similar scams on existing products like a free PS3 give away.

What are the scammers aiming for?

The first and most obvious sign to spot is the request for money – a transfer fee for an international lottery you’ve won is the classic. Don’t pay it. If you’ve not entered a lottery then you won’t have won. The transfer amount seems small but the scam’s success depends on the thousands of people who respond.

Scams like the “free iPad” hook you up to a premium rate service of some kind.

Next is information, at the most basic level information from hacked social networking sites can either be sold to other criminals or used directly to spam your friends for products or websites.

The most dangerous are the emails and calls that seek to get your bank details out of you. It needs re-iterating but your bank will never email or phone you to “confirm your details”, it’s as simple as that.

How best to dodge them?

Antivirus software will protect you from the malware out there like viruses and botnets which can steal your information. Internet security packages will highlight sites that aren’t safe, but the real defence against getting scammed is your own vigilance.

It may seem obvious to some, but if someone’s giving you something for free then it’s probably not legitimate.