The Mobster World Twap!
Ranked #10,317 in Computers & Electronics, #217,454 overall
The Mobster World Twap! - Have You Been Caught Up In It?
Has this happened to you as yet? You open your inbox to find a direct message from one of your twitter followers which also happens to be someone you follow (direct messages can also come from someone you follow but not necessarily that the person follows back) offering you an invitation to join mobster world. It looks something like this:
"Hey, I just added you to my Mafia family. You should accept my invitation! :) Click here:"
If you happen to click on the link you are taken to a page as the one shown above.
Rude Surprise!!! Trick or Treat?
What you will discover when you click the link on the mobster screen is a twitter application asking you to authorize the game through your twitter feed. But Don't worry you're still in the safe zone. You could get out now. Stop right there by clicking deny. The game will keep apologizing and suggest you try again but just close off the window if several attempts fail.
Curious To Know What You Will Discover If You Decide To Proceed..
The Thing is if you were to proceed by clicking the allow button you would be giving the game authorization to access your twitter feed. The game would then fire invitations in the form of direct messages to the persons who can receive direct messages from you without your knowledge. No wonder some people get blocked by their 'tweeple' friends and don't know why. And then the cycle starts all over again. The game ever so often sends direct message on a recurring basis too.
This could be a real annoyance for someone whose interest doesn't lie in games period. Yeah like me. Could you imagine the surprise when I got this message? Of course the person whom I got it from was a teenager which softened my disgust but still..
Don't Be Deceived
When I received that direct message more than once I thought that maybe this game must be really fun and played by a lot of people. I admit I was a little tempted because so many times I received the message and by so many different individuals, I figured it must be safe but thank goodness I didn't click that button out of curiosity. I am not a game lover and I'm sure a lot of you aren't too.
Danger Could Be Near!
A Questionable Motive...
This game isn't new and has been around in the social networks like facebook with over 1000 active users. The game resembles the previous twitter game "Spymaster" which got very amusingly subverted.
The motive behind mobster world is questionable to a large degree. Just look at the fine print text 'terms of service' that has been greyed out...almost too small to be recognizable and the text "please read the note below for our terms of service". Clicking on any one of these links redirects to a page that looks exactly like the first.
What's worse is the game grabs onto your account even if you command it not too.."The default settings on the game account definitely lead to a barrage of Update Tweets. The "Cancel Account" option, despite warning you that it is an irrevocable step, fails to make the account inactive - leaving your account open to be reused by them at any time. The OAuth permissions granted on your Twitter account are also not revoked.
The Game Uses The OAuth System To Access Your Twitter Account
This means that the persons behind playmobsterworld don't get your username or password.
However the owners have chosen to conceal their identities by using Domainsbyproxy, and haven't left an email address on their website, so we don't know who they are, and how to contact them if we wanted
But There Is Hope!
Here's What You Could Do!
The best option would be to avoid this social worm completely. But in cases where you are already a victim you can deny it further access to your twitter account by logging into your twit account and clicking the Twitter settings link and then clicking on the connection tab. You will see the programs and sites that you have allowed to access your account and you can deny the social game worm there.
One twitter user recounted this helpful tidbit
I used traceroute (tracert on windows) to trace the domain to slicehost.com. I then went onto their forum and complained. They directed me to abuse@slicehost.com where I explained that my twitter account had been used for spam without my permission.
About an hour later I got an email from playmobsterworld@gmail.com,
Hello Joe,
Thank you for contacting us. We have received your complaint and have since removed your account and have disabled all outgoing DMs.
Best,
Mobster World
You could go and do likewise but the easier and faster option is to deny it from twitter
Have you fallen for the mobster world twap!
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes I Have..Let Me Explain
spunkyduckling says:
Not particularly this one "mobster world" but another one I can't recall the name. There is another game called king of pop that is similar in its set up to mobster world but its called "king of pop". Looks the same like mobster world but the set up is different. There are so many different companies, not games only, but quizzes etc..that spam your account. Now I get so many that I know the difference of which is spam but in the beginning it was just one or two so I thought it was genuine. You can also change your password if this happens to you.
Posted November 17, 2009
No...Let Me Tell You Why
Tipi says:
I haven't been on FB much and I don't fall for stuff when I'm on there. I just don't have time, because I spend so much time on Squidoo.
Posted November 18, 2010
mysticmama says:
I've never heard of this one...though I do get a lot of weird facebook twitter DM's...I just ignore all of them.
Posted November 14, 2009
divacratus says:
I am not a game enthusiast! So never bothered to click on the links.
Posted November 09, 2009
Mickie_G says:
Nope! If I am not interested, I do not click. But I can see why some kid (younger than me!) might click to enter!
Posted November 05, 2009
Laddoo says:
I got an awful bunch of invites, but somehow I resisted the bait and was saved from this nuisance, I guess.
Posted November 04, 2009
Learn More About Mobster World
Follow Me On Twitter and Keep Up To date With The Latest Tweets
Hello..This Is Me Spunkyduckling..The Author Of This Lens
Can You Do Us All A Favor? Spread the Word About This Lens (Mobster Trap) Stumble, digg, bookmark, tweet, facebook this lens so that others could learn more about the mobster world trap
As A Token Of Appreciation For Visiting My Lens Add Your Link Here So Others Could Find And Follow You On Twitter
Tells us what you do on twitter, your interests..it will help make it clearer for others as to why they should follow you
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOLLOW?
Follow Me On Twitter
So you want to spy on me? No problem. I love learn more...1 point
Ramkitten on Twitter
Search and Rescue volunteer and avid hiker. Thru-h more...0 points
Find me lloydpinto
Giant Squid. Music Lover. Movie Freak and Total Fo more...0 points
http://www.twitter.com/divacratus
An engineer who carries a wide range of interests.0 points
So You Know Someone Who Is A Victim Of Mobster World? Soon Cometh A Day Hope
Even if you don't know anyone who is a victim there's still others who need hope..PLEASE MAKE A DONATION
A Day of Hope is a program of the CSU, Stanislaus Foundation that delivers baskets of food and turkeys to needy families in Stanislaus County for Thanksgiving.
Let's Have Some Fun. Vote!
Which of these POSTERS comes closest to reflecting your personality, creative flair, lifestyle or color & art preference?
ARE YOU A MOTHER OR NATURALLY CARING INDIVIDUAL? LOVE FAMILY LIFE OR MAYBE YOU ARE A GENEROUS PERSON? PERHAPS YOU PREFER TO BE THE PROTECTIVE TYPE AND A SUPPORTER
Click Here To Learn More Or To Buy
ARE YOU A CREATIVE INDIVIDUAL. LOVE CRAFTS AND USING YOUR HANDS? MAYBE YOU LOVE RED OR FLOWERS?
Click Here To Learn More Or To Buy
ARE YOU AN ABSTRACT ART LOVER OR JUST LIKE DOING THINGS IN PAIRS? OR MAYBE YOU DON'T BACK DOWN TO ANYTHING
Click Here To Learn More Or To Buy
YOU JUST LOVE TWITTER, BIRDS, AND SOCIAL NETWORKS? OR MAYBE YOU JUST LOVE PINK AND BROWN OR A TOUCH OF PINK
Found This Lens Useful?
Don't forget to rate it
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING AND DON'T FORGET TO SPREAD THE WORD
by spunkyduckling
One simple choice can change your life. Wish I had known that before! I love twitter!
Mobster World
more »
- 96 featured lenses
- Winner of 14 trophies!
- Top lens » Best Military Quotes Ever! My Favorites!
