Scammers hit ‘Draw Something’ app fans

With the app “Draw Something” growing more popular by the day, it has become a target for cyberscammers, a computer security firm warned.

 

Sophos said users of the social drawing game app are being sent spam messages claiming they have won a prize, but have to visit a certain website first.

 

“If you visit the site you are asked a few simple questions, before being told that you are eligible to receive an award. What you will discover, however, is that you are taken to an all-too-familiar survey scam. Your chances of ever receiving a prize are remote - chances are that you will either end up handing over personal information, or will be helping the original scammer earn commission,” it said in a blog post.

 

Many have shown interest in “Draw Something,” as shown by the millions of downloads by users of Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android smartphones since it was launched early last month.

 

The hype increased after the app’s New York-based maker OMGPop, was snapped up by social game juggernaut Zynga for $210 million.

 

“But with so much buzz and interest in the Pictionary-style game, it’s perhaps not a surprise to find scammers trying to make a quick buck by leaping on the bandwagon,” Sophos said.

 

Sophos cited data it received indicating users of “Draw Something” got spam messages from a Twitter account (@Tawandauvw).

 

It theorized the spammers were targeting Twitter users who mentioned “Draw Something” in past tweets.

 

“The Twitter account, which is not affiliated with OMGPop, claims it is giving away 5000 prizes to ‘lucky’ Draw Something fans, and that players can claim their award by visiting a newly-created website called drawsomethingwinner.com...  If you visit the site you are asked a few simple questions, before being told that you are eligible to receive an award,” it said.

 

Sophos said it has reported the account as spam to Twitter, but admitted “it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more Draw Something-related scams both on Twitter and perhaps on Facebook also given its tremendous popularity.” — TJD, GMA News