Social media is the latest, most popular technological addiction that’s taking the world by storm. This platform is embraced by people of all ages. The idea of being constantly connected to a virtual community and bottomless well of information seems so vital. One click and an assortment of windows to a world far beyond our reach is opened before us. But as significant as it is, people are finally recognizing the perils attached to the increasing influence of technology. Despite its being an abundant source of information and entertainment, evil abounds.
The methods to victimize innocent netizens are plentiful. Identity thieves and cyber criminals are becoming increasingly clever and advanced as they carry out their crimes. With technology as their ever progressive tool, these felons are broadening their scope and are wreaking havoc as stealthily as they can.
Be wary of Social Networking sites
People and even businesses now heavily rely on social networking sites to get connected and make their presence known. It’s one of the most effective ways to communicate and publicly get a point across. For businesses, it’s a powerful way to promote a brand or a service. However, sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Instagram are becoming implements for cyber crime. These social media platforms may contain information that helps fraudsters embezzle our important personal data.
Hackers know where to go to get what they need online. And as we grow more secure in sharing our information on Facebook and Twitter, these criminals figure out ways to easily get into our personal accounts. As we become more comfortable in cyberspace, we give out credit card details, vital personal information and even give a blow by blow account of our activities online. Do we even realize the risks that these actions create?
We risk ourselves and our loved ones online everyday
Making yourself an easy target for identity theft and fraud is effortless in cyberspace. Social networking identity theft is so rampant that even non-professional hackers do it. Apart from this insidious crime, offenders recognize the internet as fertile ground for hunting innocent individuals that they can harass and exploit.
In an article shared by The Gazette earlier this month, the Iowa City police reported that online video gaming is now also being utilized by predators. It is being used as a tool to lure minors that they can take advantage of.
In a statement made by Special Agent Nate Tiegland of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Cyber Crimes Unit, “Child predators know that there are certainly an amount of pre-adolescent children playing these games,” he said. “And, just like on social networking sites, they know that if they gather where these kids are, they have the chance to communicate and make contact with them.”
Disturbingly, it has been reported that 2,100 accounts of registered sex offenders have been identified and removed from online gaming venues as part of a government anti-cyber crime initiative called “Operation Game Over.”
In another incident across the country, a woman found her identity stolen. It was used to create a bogus and offensive Facebook account. Some private people do not find the attention entertaining. This example of identity breach is something that they find distressing. As victim Crystal Brown-Tatum puts it, “It really took the wind out of me because it’s such a violation of my privacy and it’s fraudulent.”
Nobody escapes a cyber-con. Yet we continue to entertain ourselves and our ‘friends’ with the status updates and check-ins that we post online. We easily forget that this information gives criminals an opportunity to get familiar with our activities and routines. We are actually giving away information that criminals can use against us. We have to understand: our whereabouts and an account of what we do that we put up on these sites provides them with an opening to defraud us.
Effects of online identity theft
The number of people using social networking sites is staggering. The comfort that people find in depending on these sites is disturbing. Financial and personal information are dropped here without any second thought. Financial transactions are done through these sites left and right. Do we realize the detriments of these actions?
Once cyber criminals get a hold of the information that we callously share or leave on these sites, we become instantly vulnerable to different types of fraud. Credit card fraud would be the most prevalent of all. Embezzling credit card information online is so easy to do these days. For hackers, this is like stealing candy from a baby.
Even businesses do not escape the wrath that hackers spread online. Big companies such as Burger King and Chrysler-owned vehicle brand Jeep have been recently victimized. Media giants like NBC News and USA Today were not spared. Even CEO-Billionaire Donald Trump has been a cyber crime victim as of late.
These recurring incidents compromise the credibility of these brands and companies. This tremendously hurts their trade. Because of these issues, reinforced cyber security is being demanded by both consumers and business-owners.
Cyber crime Protection 101
At this point, we’ve come to understand the risks that we put ourselves into by becoming “social media-fiends”. The next step is to educate ourselves as to how we can avoid online scams and social networking identity theft.
There are numerous things we can do to protect ourselves from vicious online predators. First, mind the things that you post on your social media accounts. For your own protection, do not make it a habit to check-in yourself to every location that you’re at. This allows criminals to know your activities and whereabouts. Apart from having your identity compromised online, you can even be physically harmed by these offenders or have your home broken into. The possibilities for ill meaning people are endless. For your own safety and for the safety of your loved ones, limit the information that you share with the public.
It also best practice to keep your accounts, passwords and financial information private. Do not enter your credit card details on various sites as if it were something trivial. Your social networking accounts and passwords should also be vigilantly kept secret. These are vital things that should be kept confidential and not disclosed to people whom you do not trust.
Despite the entertainment and information that the internet provides, let us not forget the dangers that lurk in its shadows. Let us learn how to use social networking responsibly. As we learn to recognize the dangers, we must come to realize that to abuse the perks that it provides, can be detrimental to us and to the people that we love.
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