Is That Quiz on Facebook Stealing Your Info?
Facebook Quizzes: More than just a game.
We’ve all seen them and most likely, many have participated in them; Facebook quizzes that have
flooded our feeds. Seemingly harmless, people perceive them as a fun way to engage with their
friends and learn more about their connections. These popular quizzes ask users to answer a series of
personal information under the guise that they are “getting to know” the user or themselves better.
Common quiz questions include details like best friend from high school, dog’s name, birth month, or
birth city.
Unfortunately, the questions are also commonly used security questions by financial institutions or
other organizations in order to further protect customers from hackers accessing their accounts.
These “fun” personality quizzes can be cleverly disguised behind holiday or pop culture themes but
are in fact phishing scams attempting to steal personal information in order to piece together
password and security information, which could then be sold on the dark web for use in accessing
accounts or opening new ones.
Once users take these quizzes, there is no getting back the information provided. However, users can
protect themselves in the future by never participating in any online quiz, as it often takes
thieves multiple attempts to gain personal data needed to create a full profile.
In the event personal information has been used to steal your account holder’s identity, a personal
Identity Recovery Advocate is standing by to research and resolve any identity theft issue that they
may suspect, or evidence of identity fraud that they discover.
The Facebook Quiz. Which Disney princess are you? What city should you actually live in?
What food matches your personality? What career should you actually have? We’ve all seen
them. Mostly likely we played along at some point. On the outside these playful, whimsical
quizzes seem harmless, even fun, but the reality is much darker.
These popular quizzes ask you to answer a series of personal questions under the guise that
you’re getting to know yourself or your connections better or you are creating something
unique and humorous that you will want to share. Common quiz questions request details like
your best friend from high school, the name of the street you grew up on, your first pet’s name,
your birth month or birth city. If this sound familiar it’s because these answers are also
answers to common challenge questions used by financial institutions and other companies as
part of the security authentication designed to protect customers’ accounts from hackers. So
while you are participating in these seemingly harmless personality quizzes you may actually
be helping a criminal piece together your password and security information to gain access to
your accounts or your email.
In addition, when you click to begin or to respond to questions, the links, image, and other
elements within these quizzes may be laced with viruses that can infect your computer, phone,
or tablet, further exposing you to fraud and theft by exposing your information over a longer
period of time. And at a minimum quizzes may be gathering data points about you and your
preferences for targeted spam and online ads.
While not all quizzes have a sinister motive, it pays to protect yourself and your identity by
thinking twice before participating in Facebook or online quizzes. Stick to the mantra: When in
doubt, don’t fill it out!
The purpose of our message today is to help you be more aware so you can better protect
your personal information. But remember, in the event your personal information has been
used to steal your identity, we are here for you. A personal Identity Recovery Advocate is
standing by to research and resolve any identity theft issue that you may suspect, or evidence
of identity fraud that you discover, no matter what the cause.
Social Media Content
Help your account holders avoid falling into the trap of online quizzes through information
and education. Here are several social media posts that can help reinforce the message in
the editorial content.
Post #1 – When it doubt, don’t fill it out. Fun Facebook quizzes could actually be phishing
scams attempting to steal your personal data. Skip the quiz, protect yourself.
Post #2 – When in doubt, don’t fill it out. Finding out what type of Disney princess you are could
lead to your personal information being stolen. Skip the quiz, protect yourself.
Post #3 – When in doubt, don’t fill it out. What city should you actually live in? This curious
Facebook Quiz could be a disguise to elicit personal information that can lead to spam or even
fraud. Skip the quiz, protect yourself.
Post #4 – When in doubt, don’t fill it out. What food matches your personality? As you find out,
so does a scammer who might be trying to steal your personal information or your identity. Skip
the quiz, protect yourself.
Post #5 – When in doubt, don’t fill it out. FB quizzes asking for personal details under the guise
of being fun, insightful, or socially engaging can actually be stealing your personal info to sell on
the dark web. Skip the quiz, protect yourself.
