Don’t fall for the ‘can’t believe he’s gone’ scam

Zach Myers
·3 min read

INDIANAPOLIS – Cyber security watchdogs are sending out another warning about a continuing scam on social media designed to trigger your sense of compassion, empathy and curiosity.

It’s called the “Can’t Believe He’s Gone” scam, and the watchdogs at Trend Micro are seeing it most often on Facebook, usually posted from a compromised account belonging to one of your Facebook friends. The scammer will post some shocking content like a terrible crash, fire, or some other tragedy with a phrase like “I can’t believe he’s gone” or “She was so young.”

The phrase is posted with a fabricated news headline and a video thumbnail. It can look very realistic and make you want to find out what happened and who the poster is talking about.

Since it appears to be posted by one of your Facebook friends, you might think the victim in the tragedy is someone you know.

However, when you click the link to the headline, it takes you to a fake survey, or a malware download or a spam list. At that point, it’s a good bet that you’re leaking your email address and other information to crooks who will buy and sell it on the dark web. That’s the kind of thing that exposes you to spam emails, calls and texts.

Trend Micro says the hackers who use this scam are very good at changing up the template so it doesn’t look the same very time. It’s the emotional manipulation that can make you click on something that you normally wouldn’t.

If you do fall for the scam and click the link, Trend Micro offers these recommendations:

  • Close the Scam Website or Video Immediately: If you inadvertently open a suspicious link leading to a website or video, exit the page promptly to minimize exposure and risk.

  • Run a Virus Scan: Use your antivirus software to conduct a thorough scan of your device. This helps detect and remove any malware that may have been downloaded without your knowledge.

  • Change Your Facebook Password: Take action to secure your Facebook account by resetting your password through Facebook’s security settings. Create a strong and unique password not used elsewhere.

  • Enable 2FA on Facebook: Enhance your account security by setting up two-factor authentication on Facebook. This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a secondary verification method in addition to your password.

  • Monitor Your Accounts for Suspicious Activity: Keep a vigilant eye on your social media, financial, and email accounts for any signs of unauthorized access or changes. Update passwords on related accounts as needed to prevent further compromise.

  • Scan Your Computer for Malware: If you provided any information or downloaded files from the scam site, run a comprehensive malware scan using Trend Micro.

  • Check and Freeze Credit Reports: Review your credit reports from major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) for unusual activity or accounts you didn’t open. Consider freezing your credit to prevent unauthorized credit applications.

  • Beware of Related Phone and Email Scams: Stay wary of suspicious phone calls or emails that may follow the initial scam attempt. Scammers might use these tactics to gather more personal information or perpetrate additional fraud.

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