Filipinos were among the victims of an online scam taking advantage of the death of Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, a computer security firm said Friday (Manila time).
Panda Security said the new scam involved a Facebook page called “R.I.P. Steve Jobs," which gained more than 90,000 fans in just a few hours.
"Criminals published a link using the popular shortener service bit.ly, where they said that Apple will be giving away 50 iPads," it said in a blog post.
But clicking on the URL would redirect victims to a site offering a number of gifts such as iPads and Sony Bravia TVs.
In exchange for a chance to win, the victim is required to enter information such as Full Name, Address, Phone Number, and e-mail address.
"Facebook has closed the page and bit.ly has done the same with their link," it said.
But before the page was closed, 25,669 victims had clicked on the link, Panda said.
A breakdown of the victims showed 315 "victims" from the Philippines clicked on the link. The biggest number of victims were from the United States, with 9,274.
Other countries with victims who clicked on the link included:
- Denmark (1,441)
- Germany (1,173)
- United Kingdom (719)
- Australia (683)
- Italy (674)
- Austria (583)
- Belgium (517)
- Sweden (463)
- Canada (446)
- France (429)
- India (398)
- Norway (307)
- Croatia (305)
- Switzerland (272)
- Malaysia (247)
- Mexico (236)
Panda Security said its investigation showed the one behind the scam pulled off a similar racket involving Apple's then-anticipated iPhone 5 and with the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
"We have to put these guys behind bars, otherwise they will continue with their business," it said. — TJD
