‘Get Free Aer Lingus Tickets’ Facebook Survey Scam

Image © santirf/depositphotos

According to a post that is currently being shared on Facebook, you can click to get 2 free flight tickets from Irish airline Aer Lingus. Supposedly, the airline is giving away 282 free tickets as a means of celebrating its 42nd anniversary. The post features an image apparently depicting two of the free tickets.

An example of the post

Post is fraudulent

However, the post is a scam and is not associated with Aer Lingus. Those who choose to participate have no chance whatsoever of receiving any free flight tickets.

The fake giveaway is designed to trick people into sharing the scam with their Facebook friends and divulging their personal information on suspect websites.

What happens when you click the fake post

If you do click on the bogus giveaway post, you will be taken to a fake survey that asks you to answer three questions about your experience with Aer Lingus.

No matter what answers you give, the – entirely fake – analysis process will ALWAYS select you as a winner. But, you’ll be told that you must first share, comment, and like the fake web page before you can claim your prize. By tricking people into carrying out these steps, the scammers ensure that their fake giveaway spreads rapidly across Facebook, gaining many new victims as it travels.

Verification links open dodgy ‘survey’ websites

After you like, share, and comment as instructed, you will be told that you must “verify” your entry by completing one or more surveys. You will be presented with a list of survey links to click.

The links open various third-party websites that offer the chance to win further prizes in exchange for completing surveys and providing your name, address, and phone numbers.

But, alas, the information you supply will be shared with marketing companies who will inundate you with unwanted and annoying phone calls, emails, text messages, and letters promoting a range of products and services.

Scammers earn money when people participate

Each time a victim provides personal information on one of the survey sites, the scammers who created the fake giveaway will earn commissions. So, the more people they can trick into participating, the more money they will make.

Survey scams are very common on Facebook

Scams very similar to the one discussed here continue to inundate Facebook. More such scams appear on the network every day.

Be wary of any post or Facebook Page that claims that you can win valuable prizes such as airline tickets just by liking, sharing, and filling in surveys.

For the record, Aer Lingus was founded in 1936 so it is not celebrating its 42nd anniversary in 2017 as claimed.