Rockford BBB: Why You Should Avoid Facebook Quizzes

Facebook quizzes are basically time-killers. You've got a few minutes, so why not take a quiz to see which Beatle you are, which dog is the perfect match for you, or how well you can score with some trivia, right?

The Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) says that unless you're careful, you could be giving away personal information while finding out that you would probably be Ringo.

Not All Social Media Quizzes Are Data-Collection Scams, But...

You should be very careful about the information you reveal through your answers to some of the quizzes you'll encounter, and definitely check the account's privacy settings.

Dennis Horton, Director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB):

Specific, personal information about you is a gold mine for con artists. Social media data and quiz answers can be used to steal identity or enable a scammer to impersonate you to your friends and family.

These Facebook users make some great points.

Here's How Some Facebook Quiz Scams Work

Although the quiz seems to be completely harmless, some have questions that are specifically designed to make you reveal things like the answers to common online security questions. As Dennis Horton explains:

For example, you may be asked questions such as: “What was the first car you owned?” “What is your mother's maiden name?” or “What is the name of the street you grew up on?” These are common security questions for insurance, banking, and credit card accounts. Sharing this information can lead to accounts being hacked and personal and financial information being stolen.

Click hear to read Kim Komando's tips for avoiding being taken in by a quiz scam.