Rey Mysterio is NOT Dead

Outline
Message circulating on Facebook claims that WWE wrestler Rey Mysterio has died in a stunt gone wrong. The message includes a link that supposedly provides more information about the accident.



Brief Analysis
Despite recent illness, Rey Mysterio is very much alive. The message is a scam designed to trick users into installing a rogue Facebook application and participating in bogus online surveys.

Last updated: October 20, 2012
First published: October 20, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer

Example


Detailed Analysis
According to a message that is currently being pushed across Facebook, former WWE Champion Rey Mysterio has died while attempting to perfect a stunt with a fellow wrestler. The message claims that users can follow a link to view a "CNN Exclusive" video of the fatal stunt.

However, the claims in the message are untrue. Although illness has recently plagued the star, Rey Mysterio did not die in a wrestling accident as claimed. And the link in the message does not lead to a video about the incident.

In fact, the message is a survey scam designed to trick users into installing a rogue Facebook application and participating in various suspect surveys and offers. Those who fall for the ruse and click the link will be taken to a Facebook page and asked to allow what appears to be a "Get Access" app from WWE:



Once permission is granted, the rogue app will begin posting the scam messages on the user's behalf.

Meanwhile, the victim will be taken to the following page and asked to verify his or her account by participating in one or more online surveys before access to the video is granted:

Some of the "survey" pages ask users to provide personal information including name, address and contact details, ostensibly to allow them to go in the draw for a prize. Others invite them to download dubious toolbars, games or software. Still others will claim that users must provide their mobile phone number - thereby subscribing to absurdly expensive text messaging services - in order to get the results of a survey or go in the running for a prize.

No matter how many offers or surveys they complete, or what services they subscribe to, victims will never get to view the promised video which does not exist. The scammers have attempted to make their claims seem more legitimate by including the official WWE logo and colour schemes on their bogus Facebook pages.

The scammers who create these bogus promotions will earn commissions via suspect affiliate marketing schemes each and every time a victim completes an offer or participates in a survey. Victims may also be faced with large phone bills for unwanted mobile phone services and, because they have provided name and contact details, they may be inundated with unwanted promotional emails, phone calls and junk mail.

This version is just one among several recent scam messages that claim that a well-known wrestler has died. Previous versions have targeted John Cena and Undertaker.

References
Rey Mysterio
WWE News: Rey Mysterio Makes First Comments About His Illness
Wrestling Star John Cena is NOT Dead
Wrestling Star Undertaker is NOT Dead

Last updated: October 20, 2012
First published: October 20, 2012
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer