Justin Bieber fans target of Facebook scam

Fraudsters are targeting young fans of Justin Bieber with a Facebook scam.

Messages on the social networking site gush: “Wow! Justin Bieber is giving away free concert tickets now!”

But instead of tickets to see the US teen singing heart-throb, anyone who falls for the scam will be hit with premium-rate phone bills.

A link on the bogus message asked you to input your mobile number, which will mean you’re signing up to a phone service that will cost £4.50 a week until you notice the bills and cancel the “contract”.

You will also inadvertently forward the scam message to all your Facebook friends.

Experts at online security firm Sophos warn that responding to the link will allow the scammers to alter your Facebook profile to include the message “just snagged 4 free tickets to see Justin Bieber” – even though there are no free tickets.

“This is a dirty rotten trick to make money out of Justin Bieber’s young fans,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

“Facebook users need to start thinking more carefully about messages like this that are shared by their friends, especially when asked to install an application that can access their Facebook profile.

“Not only are users signing up to a costly charge on their mobile phone bill, but they are also exposing their personal information and endangering their online friends.”