Internet Safety | Warning: Fake Freebie Ads on Facebook

Recently, sponsored stories for very sketchy websites have been showing up all over my Facebook wall, pages, and groups. Now that pages can promote their content, forcing it into your view, it’s impossible to stop it or avoid it, so we have to be a bit more savvy about what we click.

The crazy thing that it’s working. Many of these pages have hundreds of thousands of “likes” and friends are sharing their posts, making them appear more legitimate.

Women Get It Free

Clicking on this link takes you to a page that appears pretty harmless at first, but when you click their “Send Me Freebies!!” button, you’ll find this small print at the bottom of the sign up form.

By clicking the Send Me Samples button, I have read and agree to GetItFree.us’s Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions which includes providing my signature expressly requesting a return phone call from this list of Marketing Partners such as Alliance Health Networks, Diabetic Discount Club, DebtSettlement.com based on my answers to the following survey page.

After that, you’re sent through pages of surveys asking questions, which are basically harvesting your information for marketing lists. You even have to provide your mobile phone number and agree to receive phone calls from their partners.

Women Get it Free Privacy Policy Highlights

Specifically, entering your information on the registration page or answering any survey question will result in a live or prerecorded telephone call or SMS text message from Our Companies to any telephone number, including wireless telephone numbers, that you provide.

By providing your telephone number, you expressly consent to receiving telephone calls and text messages from Our Companies, regardless of whether you have registered the number on the FTC’s “Do Not Call” Registry. Expect to receive several calls and/or text messages that follow-up on your initial request.

Their Facebook page has over 1.5 million “likes” and does have a few legitimate freebies, but mostly funny pictures which encourage others to share and interact with their content, making it more visible on Facebook. However, if you read their Facebook comments, you’ll see others saying they’ve received tons of phone calls, but no freebies.

Completely Coupons

This website is a prime example of the saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” They have offers for FREE full-size boxes of Cheerios, Gerber Bath Sets, Huggies Diapers, and more every day, but on the first link I clicked my anti-virus sent me a High-Security Threat warning and wouldn’t let me continue.

In the fine print you’ll find this:

(*)In order to receive the item as offered, you must complete participation requirements which can include taking surveys, requesting information, and purchasing products. View our complete participation requirements for more detailed information. You must be over the age of 18 to participate in this promotion.

If you continue to read, you must participate in sponsored offers for 30 days and completely all surveys and offers to get your freebie. Plus, cancelled your participation by unsubscribing from emails, cancels your freebie.

Honestly, I don’t think anyone will be getting a freebie from this site, even if you manage to meet the requirements.

Have you seen any fake deals recently on Facebook? Share to help us all avoid them!