Like-Farming is creating a fake Facebook page or post to lure people into liking, sharing, or commenting on it. Once the page or post creators, called Like-Farmers, have gathered up hundreds or thousands of likes, comments or shares, they will change the page or post and promote something else, such as products that they will receive commissions for selling. They may also sell the page or post with the information that was collected from the "likes," comments, shares, or send links to those Facebook users that go to malicious websites that will infect their computers with malware (virus, spyware, ransomware), or to phishing websites that will steal their online account credentials, personal and financial information. The like-farmers may also attempt to scam the Facebook users they have harvested, by claiming that the same Facebook users are lottery winners or have won some form of promotion and they need to send money in order to receive their so-called prizes.
Like-Farmers, the scammers who create the fake page or post, use very touching stories about someone who is suffering from an illness, someone seriously injured in an accident, or someone that has achieved something. The beautifully written stories usually grab most Facebook users, who are asked to re-post, like or comment on the stories if they care. But the fact is, the persons being used in the fake Facebook pages are unaware that their photos are even being used.
Therefore, when using Facebook, the best approach is to think before you "like," share or comment on a post or page that asks you to do so. Find out as much information about a Facebook page or post before sharing, liking or commenting on it.
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