“Click baiting” is a term used to describe creative online headlines, or email titles designed to entice online or mobile readers to “click” to learn more. While click baiting was initially born to increase the success of legitimate online advertising, online scammers are now utilizing click baiting as a method of online identity theft.
The Better Business Bureau and McAffe have joined together and recently issued a statement about the most recent trend in fraudulent click baiting, titled “Most Dangerous Celebrities.”
This is a list of the top 10 celebrities that online scammers use in the title of their click baiting scam, in order to entice readers to click on anything from links, videos, or photos. However, when consumers click on the “scandalous” or “shocking” link to learn more, they are directed to a shady website or a link that downloads malware.
The BBB and McAfee are urging consumers to be leery of click baiting for all celebrity names. But the top 10 biggest offenders are as follows:
- Jimmy Kimmel
- Armin van Buuren
- Ciara
- Flo Rida
- Bruce Springsteen
- Blake Shelton
- Britney Spears
- Jon Bon Jovi
- Chelsea Handler
- Christina Aguilera