Let’s start out by stating that the class action settlement that you may have heard about between Facebook and a group representing all Facebook users between May 2007 and December 2022 is not a scam.  The class action relates to Facebook’s negligence in allowing Cambridge Analytica access to personal information of Facebook users which Cambridge Analytica used to produce voter profiles which the company used on behalf of former president Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Anyone who used Facebook in the United States between May 2007 and December 2022 is eligible to claim a share of the 725 million dollar settlement.  Your share, however, is likely to be quite small considering that lawyers’ fees most likely will be approximately 181 million dollars and with 200 million people using Facebook, the amount individual Facebook users will  get will undoubtedly be little.  The exact amount that claimants will receive is dependent upon how many people actually file claims.  If you do not file a claim, you will not receive benefits pursuant to this settlement.  Many people are expected not to bother since the amount they will receive will be so low.  The deadline for filing a claim is August 25th and the settlement itself still requires court approval.  A court date for approval by the Federal District Court for Northern California is set for September 7th.

So where is the scam?  You can expect that there will be scammers setting up phony settlement websites in which they seek personal information that they can use for purposes of identity theft.

TIPS

If you do decide to claim a share of the settlement, the only website to use to make that claim is https://facebookuserprivacysettlement.com/#submit-claim  You will note at this official site, you are not asked for your Social Security number or a credit card number.  The site allows you to determine how you want your payment to be made.  One of the option is to have the payment made directly to your bank account which would require you to provide your banking information.  Frankly, I may be a bit paranoid, but I don’t see the upside to doing this.  The simplest way to get your payment is to take it as a prepaid MasterCard in which case you do not have to provide any sensitive information.

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