SEATTLE (REUTERS) - Facebook and the state of Washington sued a company on Thursday they accused of a practice called 'clickjacking' that fools users of the world's top social network into visiting advertising sites, divulging personal information and spreading the scam to friends.
The scheme, also known as 'likejacking' because victims are tricked into using Facebook's 'Like' button to perpetuate it, has grossed US$1.2 million (S$1.5 million) a month for the Delaware-based firm, Adscend Media, according to the state attorney general's office.
The plaintiffs charge that Adscend profits from the scam by collecting money from its advertising clients for every Facebook user unwittingly misdirected to a target ad or subscription service.
The legal action is believed to mark the first time any state government has gone to court in a crackdown against spam spread by Facebook, the world's most widely used social media network, said Ms Paula Selis, senior counsel for the attorney general.
