With the amount of information that we freely share on Facebook and other social media platforms, it’s no surprise that these sites attract the attention of hackers. The point of social media is to share our likes, dislikes, and life events with those around us. Unfortunately, this information is highly valued by online criminals for less than honest purposes.

There are a number of factors that contribute to identity theft perpetrated on the Facebook platform, including:

• * Lack of customer awareness regarding identity theft and internet security.

• * Unfounded sense of trust towards social media providers.

• * The need for these platforms to sell user data for revenue.

• * A lack of policing standards.

Understanding how these factors interplay and the various risks posed to users is the first step in protecting ourselves online.

Why do scammers scam?

There are many reasons why scammers choose to target social media platforms. Most often, it is for monetary gain. Online criminals can have been known to set up fake charities, asking friends, family, and strangers to donate to worthy — and unfortunately fake — causes.

Scammers may also use fake accounts to promote hateful propaganda or spread lies and hurtful rumours. Doing so can have serious repercussions, and it can take years to correct the damage of this form of attack.

How Facebook identity theft works

Online criminals can use several tricks to build realistic and convincing social media profiles. Doing this is surprisingly easy, especially if existing users have low internet security.

A scammer will typically locate their target profile before taking basic information including your birthdate, photos, educational history, and even your phone number to create a realistic scam profile. Many Facebook users make this information freely available to everyone online — not just those they are “friends” with.

Another method commonly used to access this sensitive information is by sending a phishing email. By impersonating a trusted organisation, the criminal can extract all types of personal information to create a hyper-realistic account.

Best practices to protect your identity on Facebook

1. Use the maximum security settings

Facebook and other social media platforms offer an extensive variety of security settings. To protect your information — including photos, personal information, and likes — place all of these settings to maximum. Make sure only your online “friends” can access your account and regularly review both your friends list and settings.

2. Do not participate in Facebook quizzes

Even though the quiz creator may not have malicious intentions, these quizzes often make personal details readily available for scammers and hackers to access. The questions in these quizzes are often centered around very personal information, such as where you were born, your pets names, and favourite books, movies, or TV shows.

3. Do not link apps to your profile

These days, many apps provide the opportunity to login ‘via Facebook’. While this may seem like the more convenient option, doing so can provide the app with your Facebook account credentials. If the app has poor security settings, a simple data breach could grant online criminals free access to your account.

4. Be wary of what you post

Scammers can use information such as holiday plans and location to their advantage by creating realistic stories that allow them to scam family and friends. Be wary of posts and avoid adding such information until after the trip is completed, including photos.

5. Hide your birth date

Your birthdate is a vital piece of information that hackers can utilise for a wide variety of purposes. Facebook users should consider providing a fake birthday in order to protect their identity.

6. Use a VPN

What is a VPN? Well, it’s a security tool that can be used to establish a secure connection between the user and their internet server. When using a VPN, all of your traffic is directed through a secure, encrypted tunnel. Your IP address is also hidden, making your physical location completely hidden.

A VPN can add an extra layer of security and make it far more difficult for scammers to intercept personal information when accessing your Facebook account.

Identity theft is a major problem that many users have encountered when using Facebook and other social media platforms. While these websites represent a great opportunity to keep in touch with loved ones, it’s important that we all understand the risks attached and make smart, informed decisions that are in our best interests.

Author Bio: Bridget Black

Bridget Black is a writer and editor, currently living in Melbourne. She is a copywriter for Newpath Web and loves working with words of all shapes and sizes. When not playing around with punctuation and grammar, she enjoys travelling and curating her Spotify playlists.