A blog ago I talked about how an OJ company now uses facebook badges on their juice cartons to “socially market” their products. Of course, nowadays, such is no longer unusual. Almost all commercial establishments and even little shops invite their customers to friend them on facebook. Eg. Find us on facebook “iheart froyo” .
Just today on the paper (The Manila Times, March 2, 2011) I read how certain groups of scheming people also use facebook and other social networking sites to target and tap their market. Now, these people are net-stalking others neither out of any romantic impulse nor for identity-theft schemes. Facebook apparently has become a good source for international drug syndicates to profile and lure their “mules”.
According to the article the modus operandi goes: they will try to friend request “profiled” people on facebook, then they would start chatting and sending messages, and then would be offering free trips abroad with a huge amount of pocket money bonus. And of course, it comes with the catch.
Moreover, the same article said, given the economic situation in the Philippines and the fact that Filipinos are among the top five users of facebook, our countrymen have easily become the prey of these syndicated drug dealers.
By Vann dela Cruz #15
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