Social media has become an integral part of our lives, connecting us to friends, family, and the world. However, this connectivity has also made us vulnerable to cyber fraudsters who create fake profiles to harm us. In this blog post, we will discuss the risks of fake social media profiles and the precautions you can take to safeguard against them.
What is a Fake Social Media Profile?
A fake social media profile is created by cyber fraudsters using the personal information of a victim without their knowledge or consent. The profile is then used to spread false or fake information, damage the reputation of the victim, and gain financial benefit by sending friend requests to other friends of the victim. The dangers of fake social media profile creation are widespread and can cause significant harm to the victim.
Dangers of Fake Social Media Profiles
The creation of fake social media profiles can lead to various offences such as spreading fake and false information, damaging the reputation of the victim, sending false friend requests, luring children and teenagers with a fake identity, making friends and family vulnerable to cyber-attacks such as phishing, fake links, and malware attacks. Financial fraud may also occur by requesting money using messenger/message services.
Modus Operandi
Fraudsters create fake social media profiles by collecting identity-related information through various means such as using social engineering tactics, phishing, recent photographs, events/functions, achievements/family, and other details of others like army personnel, popular personalities, professionals working abroad, etc.
Precautions to Safeguard Against Fake Profiles
To safeguard against fake social media profiles, you should follow good online practices such as avoiding sharing personal information, restricting access, not sharing personal high-resolution pictures publicly, sharing group pictures rather than individual images, and limiting information posted on social media platforms. It is essential to never send money to requests sent on social media accounts, never accept friend requests from unknown persons without appropriate verification and confirmation, and never click on suspicious links or download anything until you verify the authenticity of the source.
Using different passwords for different social media accounts and emails, being alert of any queries about your online actions that you are not aware of, enabling two-factor or multifactor authentication, reporting any fake profile on the social media platform and on the cybercrime portal, and being aware of security and privacy features on social media accounts are also essential precautions to safeguard against fake profiles.
In conclusion, fake social media profiles can cause significant harm to the victim. It is essential to follow good online practices and take precautions to safeguard against them. By being aware of the risks and taking the necessary precautions, we can enjoy the benefits of social media while protecting ourselves from cyber fraudsters.
