Shields up - the scammers are active.

We're relatively sure that anyone with have an ounce of sense would know this already, but Major Nelson has confirmed that Microsoft are not running any "Xbox 720 Beta" programs that are open to the general public. Several pages have cropped up on Facebook in recent weeks claiming that people who "like" the page or - in some cases - give the page full timeline posting access, will be accepted as Xbox 720 beta testers, will get a console well before launch, and will be allowed to keep it once the test is over.

Most diabolically, a few of the pages seem to be targetting younger players, and are requesting that you hand over your Windows Live/Hotmail address in order to participate. DO NOT DO THIS.

If your friends are telling you that they've been accepted as testers for the next Xbox, we (and the Major!) assure you that they haven't. They won't be getting a console for free for their troubles.

In fact, if they fall for this sort of thing, you can probably have a chuckle at their expense, as they're the sort of person that will end up with their Facebook account being hacked after they download an app that promises to give them free money from Nigeria.