Facebook users warned vs Bill Gates $5k 'sharing' offer

Facebook users may want to think twice before hitting the Share button over a supposed $5,000 offer from Microsoft founder William Henry "Bill" Gates III. In a blog post, security vendor Sophos said the hoax featured a supposed message from Gates claiming he will give them $5,000 if they click "Share." "Bill Gates may be a billionaire, but if he's going to splash his cash around he's got better things to do with it than give it to people who simply share a photo of him on Facebook. That hasn't, however, stopped almost 400,000 people on Facebook from sharing an image of the Microsoft founder, holding an (obviously Photoshopped) message,"  said Sophos' Graham Cluley. Cluley said there is no such offer from Gates, adding the photo was likely "meant as a joke." He added that while the message being spread is harmless, it could add to the general "noise" on Facebook and may be considered spam by many users. "(T)he more you share 'jokes' like this, and the more used your friends and family become to you spreading such material, the more likely it is that you're fostering an atmosphere where forwarding chain letters, hoaxes and jokes is considered the norm," Cluley warned. "So, call me a kill-joy if you like, but jokes like this aren't necessarily going to end up with everyone amused," he added. — LBG, GMA News