HOUSTON — Anyone who's been down the Facebook rabbit hole has probably seen those quizzes that pop up to entice you.
Do you have a high IQ? Which movie star do you look like? Can you solve this brain teaser?
Some are a fun, harmless way to pass the time, but the Better Business Bureau is warning that others are data collection scams that could cost you.
How Facebook quiz scams work, according to BBB
- A fun quiz pops up on your Facebook feed or another social media platform. By answering the questions, you could be giving away more information than you realize.
- Quiz answers can be used to steal your identity or enable a scammer to impersonate you to your friends and family.
- For example, questions like: "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 this information can lead to accounts being hacked, and personal and financial information being stolen," the BBB warns.
- Not all social media quizzes are data collection scams but BBB cautions users to be careful about what they share online and to check the privacy settings on their account.
How to avoid being scammed
- Be skeptical: Before answering a quiz, figure out who created it. Is it a brand you trust? Just because something appears to be fun and innocent, doesn’t mean there isn’t an inherent risk.
- Adjust privacy settings: Review the social media account’s privacy settings and be strict about any information that is shared - and be mindful of who you are sharing it with.
- Remove personal details from your profile: Don’t share information like a phone number or home address on social media accounts.
- Don't give answers to common security questions: Be cautious if the questions in a quiz ask for things like your mother's maiden name, the street you grew up on, previously owned vehicles, favorite foods, or the name of your high school.
- Monitor friend requests. Don't accept friend requests from people you don’t know. Also be wary of a second friend request from someone you are already connected with; the second profile may be an impostor trying to access your data and your Friends list.
If you’ve spotted a scam, report it to the BBB ScamTracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams.
