Scammers May Use Nude Celebrity Photos as “Click Bait”, Says Better Business Bureau

CHICAGO, IL – Scammers are taking advantage of the recent leak of nude celebrity photos to trick consumers into clicking on links that go to fraudulent websites. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers that scammers are taking advantage of sensational news and public curiosity to spread malware, which can ultimately lead to identity theft.

“Even though it’s too soon to know if anyone has been victimized by this scam, the BBB has seen similar tactics in the past after other newsworthy events,” says Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois, Inc. “Never click on links in your email or via social media that you are unsure about.”

The BBB expects to see “click baiting” scams claiming to link to the photos. Clicking on these links or downloading photos can instead install malware on your computer or smartphone. Some sites may ask for personal information that can lead to identity theft or be used for additional spamming.

Similar scams have occurred with messages claiming to show photos of the death of Osama Bin Laden, newborn Prince George of Britain and recently, Robin Williams’ last words.

The BBB offers the following tips to avoid these types of scams:

• Don’t click on videos or photos that claim to be “exclusive,” “shocking” or “sensational”.
• Delete unsolicited emails or social media messages that raise red flags.
• Hover over a link to see its true destination. Before you click, mouse over the link to see where it will take you. Don’t click on links leading to unfamiliar websites.
• Don’t trust your “friends” online. It might not actually be your friends who are “liking” or sharing scam links to photos. Their account may have been hacked and scammers could be using another tactic called “clickjacking”. Clickjacking is a technique that scammers use to trick you into clicking on social media links that you would not usually click on.
• Click here to report scam posts on Facebook.
• Click here to report scam on Twitter.

For more tips, visit www.bbb.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.