A wave of Twitter posts advertising a “free iPhone” continues today at the rate of about 1,300 Tweets per hour. They lead to sites that require visitors to purchase any of a variety of subscription services in order to get the “gift.”
At least one Twitter user seemed to believe that his account had been hacked.
The vast spam run pumps out Tweets with URL’s shortened by the Bit.ly shortening site that lead to sites including:
— Sweepstakes (dot) com
— BiggestGiftRewards (dot) com
— Rewards-Confirmation (dot) com
— FreeBrandProducts (dot) com
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Trying to navigate away from the pages results in a pop-up Window asking if you “sure” you want to move away from the page. Clicking “OK,” merely takes to another page (Sweepstakes, above)
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The rules of the game also include:
“By clicking Continue, I have read and agree to Sweepstakes.com’s Official Rules, Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions which includes providing my signature expressly requesting a return phone call from Sweepstakes.com and SMS texts (std msg rates may apply).”
The huge spam run could be the work of affiliates. Cicks on the sites are being monitored:
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A check of the Twitter accounts some of the spam was sent from shows that some appear to have been used only to send spam (including some in December). Other accounts appear to have sent normal chatter with the “free iPhone” spam sent as well.
At least one Twitter user appeared to know that his account had been hacked:
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Tom Kelchner