Alert: Facebook scam

If you didn’t think there was a loophole for criminals to penetrate Facebook’s Gestapo-like business model, you are mistaken. Facebook has seemingly become a safe haven for scams or illegal trading through their very own loophole- ads.

I am a fan of sunglasses-maker Ray Ban. So, when an ad on Facebook (see: picture on the left) promised Rab Ban aficionados 90% off on everything on Ray Ban’s inventory, my interest was more than piqued. Click click, I started shopping. I wanted such and such style in such and such color. I created a profile, then just before I hit the cart button, I had one last question that begged to be asked: “Really?” A pair of sunglasses that normally go for US$365 can be had for US$19.00?

I felt I needed to explore a little more than the company I was about to give my credit card information to. A little googling effort resulted to more googling that ultimately to me contacting Ray Ban’s official Twitter account.

Below is exactly how my conversation with Ray Ban played out on Twitter:
Me: hey, @ray_ban , have you seen this? http://www.raybansonlineofficial.com/
Ray Ban: Hey, this is a scam we have no association with. Our team will look into it now.
Me: yes, I figured it out after reading their terms of agreement. Also, you might want to alert Facebook, where said co. has an ad.

Since then, the company under which raybansofficial.com is registered has taken down the page Conditions of Use (http://www.raybansonlineofficial.com/Conditions.html), but is still taking order which means leads me to conclude what is already obvious – Facebook is a safe haven for crooks.