If you see this comment with a link on Facebook, do not click on it

Facebook spam comments
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Many of you who visit just about any news media Facebook page have probably seen it. It’s a comment that includes what appears to be a link from a legitimate news source. But in actuality, it’s probably malicious software sent by spammers intending to infect your computer.

It’s been happening more in recent months. And you definitely should not click on it.

They usually appear on Facebook posts about tragedies such as deaths, car crashes, natural disasters or crime. Most often, they say something like “It’s terrible this happened” or “This is horrible” or “Police just released video of the incident” — sometimes adding the words “GRAPHIC CONTENT” just for extra punch.

The images below are a couple of examples of what these often look like. 

Bots malware Facebook posts

It’s meant to look like there is a video for you to watch — to make you think it’s some scene video or a report. The spammer, likely looking to infect your computer, is trying to prey on your curiosity to click the link. 

In addition to the comment, be aware of what web link addresses they are attaching. The two most common appear to start with “wee.so” or “kve.so.” But there could be others.

This is happening across the country and malicious actors are getting sneakier and sneakier. The best advice you can follow is simply to not click on the link. And make sure to warn people you know who you think are likely to fall for something like this.

Here is more advice from Facebook on how to handle spam.

Spam involves contacting people with unwanted content or requests. This includes sending bulk messages, excessively posting links or images to people’s timelines, and sending friend requests to people you don’t know personally.
 
Spam can spread by clicking unsafe links or installing malicious software. Scammers can sometimes gain access to people’s Facebook accounts, which are then used to send spam.
If you clicked on something that turned out to be spam or your account is creating unwanted posts, events, groups or Pages, try these steps:
 
Secure your account
Review account activity and remove any spam
Report spam to us
 
If you come across spam on Facebook, report it to us. By doing so, you’ll be playing an important role in helping us protect other people from scams.
 
Learn more
 
It’s possible that you clicked a malicious link, downloaded a bad file, or logged into a fake Facebook Page and someone got access to your account. Learn more about keeping your account secure.
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