Questioning FanBox
Yep. Got tricked into registering for FanBox. Fanbox is a new social networking site built by SMS.ac, the premium SMS service website.
FanBox displays as a virtual desktop with Windows-style cloud background which is pretty cool at first. It offers “fun-loving” applications such as What Is Your Stripper Name? or Sexy Celebrity Photos, integrated messenger services that includes Yahoo!, Windows Live, Google Talk, and AIM, word document processor, data back-up facility, and it even plays polyphonic tune when you click a button.
I found FanBox when an user named my_ship82431289 emailed my high school’s mailling list, the e-mail said:
my_ship82431289 asked you a question. View the question and answer it.
I thought that was from a friend of mine or something. Clicked the link, a question popped out: Do you believe love is blind? I smirked thinking, sheeesh, someone is being sentimental. I answered the question, then the site asked if I wanted an email for the questions or something, and out of nowhere I was already registered as an user. Turned out that the automatic email was from the “Question It!” application. Found several users from Indonesia, but they seemed, err, creepy (you know, type of users with cheesy photos normally used in BB17-ish dating sites). The Log Out button, if it exists at all, was nowhere visible on the site, hence I cannot log myself out unless I clean up my browser’s cookie or cache. Fortunately, there was a Deactivate Account option somewhere in the Edit Account tab.
If you’ve been tricked into registering just as how I have, check out this article from TechCrunch and the comments given about the site’s holding company, SMS.ac. Seems like SMS.ac isn’t too reputable in the internet sphere; it is considered as a phishing site, or it uses a phishing type of method to promote their products by spamming through email accounts. TechCrunch advices you to not click on FanBox links and most definitely not give them log in details for your email service, that would include logging in to any of the messenger service, inviting friends, or anything that involves entering your email’s login information and password.
The virtual desktop idea was pretty cool though; it could’ve been an integrated platform that combines social networking sites and feed reader facility in one spot. Well, if you’re bored with Friendster already, but you’re still not up to Facebook or Second Life, you’ll know where to go.
Hello. You are now reading an article written by Marisa Duma, published on 12Apr08 along with other notes on Articles On The Web, Personal Note, Web 2.0.
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I think I’ve got one like this before, couldn’t recall whether it was from FanBox or not, have never responded to this kind of email. :lol:
yuki tobing’s last blog post..Even Man Can Cook
Like my mother told me since I was two: “Listen to me, Colson: If a stranger offers you some sweet, never accept it, refuse politely and come home immediately”. Wise woman, good advice.
Got tricked, indeed! Now i’m ignoring all notification letters from FanBox! Sucks.
deka’s last blog post..Tied Me Up!
I was and still am being bombarded with some rather suspicious automatic invitations from my friends’ email addresses the last couple of weeks. The automatic email gimmick was that FanBox features spamless email interface. I don’t see how can they achieve that given the nature of their invitations itself behaved somewhat spam-like.
My 11-year-old stepdaughter clicked on one of these Fanbox links in her email and she is now being asked some sexy questions, *apparently* from her family! I’m not very happy to say the least…