A scam could be hiding in that Facebook quiz

(NEXSTAR) – Personality quizzes are about as abundant on Facebook as baby photos and political rants. Whether you want to know which character you’re most like on “The Office,” how long you’ll live to be, or the color of your aura, answering a few short questions will reward you with a fun answer.

But you should think twice before playing along, the Better Business Bureau warns.

Nur Zincir-Heywood, a computer science professor at Dalhousie University in Canada, went even further: “Never do these,” she said in an interview with CBC.

These types of quizzes may seem innocuous, but they could be scams designed to collect your personal information.

You really shouldn’t answer if the questions start to sound like common security questions. Anything about your mother’s maiden name, the name of your first pet, or the street you grew up on should be immediate red flags.

Smart scammers will spread out these types of questions across multiple quizzes to make their plan less obvious, Zincir-Heywood told the CBC. Eventually, they’ll get enough information on you to take advantage.

A scammer could use your answers to get into your accounts, including bank accounts, the BBB said.

The organization advises people always be skeptical when handing over their information, even during a Facebook quiz. “Just because something appears to be fun and innocent, doesn’t mean there isn’t an inherent risk,” the BBB said.

You should also check your Facebook privacy settings and make sure you haven’t given access to any apps or third parties you don’t recognize.

Finally, be wary of friend requests from people you don’t know, or a second request from someone you are already connected with. “The second profile may be an impostor trying to access your data and your Friends list,” the BBB said.