By Drew M Smith
Facebook has increasingly been the hunting ground for those looking to steal a user’s personal data. As many people use the site, it creates a fertile environment for data mining. This is not helped by the results of one study regarding protecting identities online. 64% of those polled by Experian believed in not securing their information on Facebook or believed that it was too much of a hassle, despite nearly 70% of adults using the social media site.
As a result, many scams have cropped up that can and will target everyday functions on Facebook. These include:
- The "See Who's Viewed Your Profile" Scam: These scams focus on malicious links. You click on it, thinking you’re going to find someone who viewed your profile. Instead, your taken to a site where they ask for your personal information. Facebook will never do that.
- The “Fake News” Scam: Taking advantage of the doubt in proper news, this scam sends out fake news articles that are malicious links. These links download virus software onto your hard drive and steal your personal data.
- “Cancelling Your Account” Scam: This is a form of phishing. Hackers will send out an email or link saying that your account was shut down and they need your credentials to verify. Don’t be fooled, the only people that can shut down your account is you or Facebook itself.1
Though these scams look dangerous, even the simplest steps can prevent your identity from being stolen. Never open unknown links on Facebook. Activate dual-factor authentication for this and any social media accounts you have. Monitor what gets said or posted on your account.
1https://www.thestreet.com/technology/cybersecurity/facebook-scams-14746513
