Internet surfers warned of fake link bait
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Last Updated: Wednesday, January 22, 2014, 21:25
  
Zee Media Bureau

Johannesburg: Internet surfers have been reportedly warned of false link baits that are spreading on the social networks.

The fake link baits usually persuade netizens into click clicking them, leading to a fake website just to have more click through rate 'CTR'. Although the false links have been around since the beginning of the Internet, spammers have now shifted their focus on social sites that have millions of users per day.

Digital media director at Acceleration Media, Chanel MacKay warned that the use of link bait could seriously damage the brand among consumers, despite the unscrupulous manner increasing the CTR, News24 reports.

According to the report, such link baits would include provocative videos with such gripping descriptions that a user can't help but click on it out of sheer curiosity, and doing so eventually automatically shares the content on the user's profile page, making the post go viral or lead to forced app downloads and malware installations.

Some marketers have also been using images of famous personalities like Sir Richard Branson, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates in baited advertising to sell what appear to be glorified pyramid scheme programmes, said the report.

Further cautioning the consumers, the analyst said that people should look out for the advertiser logo to ensure that the banner offer is legit, the report added.

With Agency Inputs


First Published: Wednesday, January 22, 2014, 21:25


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