Apple’s iPad is scheduled to hit stores April 3, 2010. Social media users need to be cautious and watch for “free iPad” offers circling around. Scammers are using this new product release to confiscate personal information. The scam claims to offer you a free iPad (or to be a beta tester), but requires a credit card number and cell phone number. Social media users are even encouraged to invite their friends to the fake pages to increase their chances of being selected to try the iPad. It signs you up for a cell phone service, and you will start being billed $10 per week.

Expect these scams to circulate not only through social media, but through email and normal search engines. Be cautious when you see anything offered for free, especially if it’s a new product. If something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.