How Do We Ward Off Facebook Impostors?
Posted: May 19th, 2009 | Author: admin | Filed under: General Facebook Information | Tags: Facebook, Facebook Friends, Facebook Impostors, Facebook Login, Facebook Password, Facebook Profiles, Facebook Safety, Mark Zuckerberg, Technorati |If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Facebook impostors are proliferating alarmingly as reported by the media. What started as a social networking website founded five years ago by Mark Zuckerberg, then a Harvard computer science major student, along with his colleagues, to communicate with friends and other contacts, has now become a medium for unscrupulous individuals to hatch their evil schemes.
Just recently, alarming exposés on scam artists, hackers, identity thieves and other Facebook Impostors posing as friends and stealing personal information from members rocked the global social networking community drawing almost universal criticism of the website.
One report tells of Bryan Rutberg of Seattle, USA, whose account was used to extort money from his friends. Rutberg’s impostor posted “Bryan NEEDS HELP URGENTLY!!!” on his status update to which one of his friends responded by sending money to London where Rutberg was allegedly robbed and in need of fare to get back to the U.S.
In another event, Anthony Stancl, a resident of New Berlin, Wisconsin, solicited naked photos of high school boys by posing as a woman on his Facebook account. He purportedly used the photos to compel the young men to engage in sexual acts with him. Stancl was later seized by authorities on grounds of 12 complaints of felony, which included ‘sexual assault of a child younger than 16 and possession of child pornography’.
Even a public official like President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana wasn’t spared from this vicious online modus operandi. In his case, an account was set up containing 174 supporters and two photo albums featuring the Berbice Bridge in Guyana and pictures of international leaders, some posing with the South American head. Jagdeo denied any involvement on the existence of the account and sought the assistance of the police to investigate on this matter.
In the light of these disturbing incidents, how do we ward off Facebook impostors?
Jim Lewis, director of the technology and policy program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, pointed out two primary ways to keep Facebook impersonation schemes at bay. First is to keep your computer anti-virus programs updated, and second is to inform online companies of your need for a better privacy protection.
Facebook’s management is also doing its part in reducing the occurrences of impersonations. For this purpose, the site offers the following advice to members who want to protect the safety of their online profiles:
• Be suspicious of anyone — even friends — who ask for money over the internet. Verify their circumstances independently, either by calling them directly, or checking with mutual friends.
• Choose a strong password and use unique credentials for each of your web accounts. Facebook says hackers tap into one site and then try to reuse passwords on others.
• Use an up-to-date browser that features an anti-phishing blacklist.
• Use and run anti-virus software on your computer.
• Reset your Facebook password if you suspect your account has been compromised.
• Have more than one contact e-mail address. This will help if one of them is hacked.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB), on the other hand, has also issued guidelines in order to avoid internet fraud on social networking sites, to wit:
• Be extremely wary of messages from Facebook friends or strangers that direct the user to another website via a hyperlink.
• Before wiring money to a friend in a jam, users should attempt to contact their friend outside of the social networking site, such as over the phone or via e-mail to confirm the situation. If that’s not possible, BBB recommends asking them a question to which only they would know the answer.
• Users should always make sure their computer’s operating system’s anti-virus and firewall software are up to date.
There! That should keep us safe.
Any more ideas on how to kick off Facebook impostors? Have you had any encounters with people imposing on your Facebook fun? Share it with everyone if you like.
Note:Below are the comments we were able to retrieve when we switched our servers but lost our blog data.
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Joyce Yap said at 11:33 pm on May 19th, 2009:
thats a great way of protecting our accounts in facebook. Thanks!
2
Myz said at 4:07 am on May 20th, 2009:
that was ridiculous, please do some more ways to protect our accounts. God Bless!!
3
Bev said at 5:14 pm on May 20th, 2009:
Why not do some kindof verification that someone is who they say they are? Kindof like an id or somethin? I belong to another website and they use the last four numbers of ones ssn. Just a suggestion.
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LANGEL said at 9:11 pm on May 20th, 2009:
THANKS ALOT 4 DA ADVICE
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Shelby Carr said at 1:45 pm on May 23rd, 2009:
Oh YES! I have had that experience myself about a week ago.
A CyberCriminal contacted my friends stating that I was robbed in London and desperately needed money for fare back home.
I had a few friends contact me asking if it was true, which of course it wasn’t. I had no way to contact my list of friends on Facebook to warn them that this was happening because the criminal changed my password and I have been unable to get into my account.
However, I sent Twitter tweets, which is integrated with my Facebook, announcing was was happening and not to fall for the scam. My employer used her Facebook account, since we have a lot of the same Facebook friends, to explain the situation and letting them know that it was not me asking for money and to report it to Facebook if they were approached.
How did they get access to my Facebook account? Not sure, but about 2 weeks before that my email address was hacked and over 100,000 emails were sent from my email address. Those criminals were spamming for prescription drugs, male enhancements and the so called Nigeria letters stating someone died and named the recipient as their heir. So supposedly, that is how they got my Facebook access.
I’m still waiting for Facebook to quit dragging their feet in getting my account back under my control so that I can change my password. Seems they are taking their own sweet time about it although they were quick about getting my information from me to prove the account was mine.
My advice? Change your passwords diligently and do NOT use just words or numbers, but a combination of letters (small & caps), numbers and symbols. Believe me, being a victim of hackers is not a fun process at all and not only that it also affects your credibility online.
Sincerely,
Shelby Carr
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simone said at 11:50 pm on May 29th, 2009:
what about people making accounts that are on you. i have had an account that has been made (im assuming its my ex bf who has been causing me hell for the last 2 years since we broke up) and its using my photo, my name and stating that, quote ‘im easy for good funtimes in bed yes?’. i have sent FOUR complaints to facebook without any result, is there any way of preventing someone making an account on me again? i cant see how it is even possible!! this is a really frustrating issue.
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anne said at 10:36 pm on May 30th, 2009:
it’s a great way sorting out the devious and scupulous users.
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MusLopil said at 10:29 pm on June 2nd, 2009:
What interesting article, but where took information?
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FoxJudsf said at 10:07 pm on June 5th, 2009:
Good, interesting article, but where took information?
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Danielle said at 1:33 pm on June 6th, 2009:
i think people should watch who they add and not post confidential info on their profiles. They should also place non relative pics like cartoons as their avatars.
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Charlene said at 7:19 pm on June 6th, 2009:
Thanks for the info. My rule, is that I NEVER give money to anyone over the internet! And if it sounds to good to be true, or you have to pay someone to get your so called money it is a scam in my books. No one should have to pay money to get a lot of money in return.
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Andrew said at 8:56 pm on June 6th, 2009:
Thank you face book team what can i say but what everyone else has said.
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TJ said at 10:26 pm on June 6th, 2009:
Thanks for the info. I already experienced that in yahoo account everytime i log in ive to change my password…and then receivin’ spam mails, weird mails…
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Nicole said at 2:28 am on June 7th, 2009:
I have received loads of mail from Nigeria, Ghana and many other countries asking to use my account so they can put millions of dollars there for God knows what reason and promise that i will be able to keep up to 50 % of it, but I dont understand why any one would beleive those mails. You have to be really stupid to give away your bank acount and think you will get millions of dollars just for keepig someones money.
The other thing those people write is that they are looking for investment partners. Think before you act. Why on earth would a serious businessman try to make investment connections by randomly writing a person they know nothing about. It’s sad that the majority of these scams are from Africa but it’s even more sad that people actuallt belive those mails.
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Nicole said at 2:35 am on June 7th, 2009:
LOL! Here we go again. Just after posting my message i got this mail. Seriously? 500 000 dollars? What winnings? Come on people NO ONE could seriously think this is for real. If you are in doubt try to Google names, adresses or even phrases from the mail you get. usually you find out that othershave gotten the exact mail.
PAYMENT OF YOUR CHECK FROM Mrs. Jennifer CampbellVERIFICATION OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE:Ref # : NLAG/FGN/FMF/CBN/B2517/99.PAYMENT OF YOUR $500,000 DOLLAR COMPENSATED CHECK. I am happy to inform you about my success in getting your winning funds underthe cooperation of a new partner from BAHRAIN. Presently I’m in BAHRAIN forinvestment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to get yourwinningsdespite that failed somehow. Be inform that the check will be sent to you by the delivery company butthrough my boss account with Barclay bank London. so the check will bearBarclay bankLondon. This is a real check so be rest assured that the money will beclearedin youraccount immediately it is deposited in your account. You are required to reconfirm your full name, address where the certifiedbankCheck will be sent. Your telephone number is also needed for easycommunication. Assoon as the information is received i will send you the cashier check throughcourierservice and the tracking number will be sent to you to enable you track itdownbeforeit arrival in your country. Meanwhile be informed that the cost of shipment and the insurance coverage ofcertified cashier check are at your expenses and cannot be deducted from youdraft. Fill this form and return it back to me to enable me dispatch your check atonce. (1) Your full name-(2) Your address–(3) Your telephone number-4) Occupation..5) Nationality:..6) Age…..7) Present Country. Send the above information immediately to : Ask him to send you a total sum of $500.000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USDOLLARS)certified bank Cheque, which I raised in your favor as yourcompensation for all the past efforts and attempt on this matter.I appreciateyour efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touch with mysecretary NAME: Mr Collins Douglas EMAIL:collinsdouglas114@hotmail.com009-234-805-070-0146 Here is the total amounts for each of the three delivery company and rightnowyou are to make your choice of delivery. The payment information to enable you make payment would be sent to you assoonas you make your choice to enable you make payment and get your draft withinthe timeduration given below you are advice to pick amongst the choice given to enable you get yourdraft indue time: (1)FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANYDURATION FOR DELIVERY AMOUNT24 HOURS OF DELIVERY US$260 (2)UPS DELIVERY COMPANYDURATION FOR DELIVERY AMOUNT24 HOURS OF DELIVERY US$260 (3)DHL DELIVERY COMPANYDURATION FOR DELIVERY AMOUNT24 HOURS OF DELIVERY US$280 Do make a choice to Mr Collins Douglas to enable him send you the informationyou would use in making payment. Please do let me know immediately you receive the Cheque to enable usshare thejoy after all the suffering at that time. In the moment, I’m very busy herebecause of the investment projects, which the new partner and me arehaving athand,finally,remember that I had forwarded instructions to my secretary (Mr Collins Douglas)on yourbehalf to send your draft to you without any delay. Best regards,Mrs. Jennifer CampbellPresidential Library & MuseumFormer Director International OnlineLottery Co-coordinator. © 2009 WORLDCOMPENSATION PROGRAMS® The certified check is duly licensed as a Barclays Bank credit institution inthe sense of Article 2 of the law of 5 April 1993 on the financial sector asamended(hereinafter the Law) and is under the prudential supervision of the BarclaysBanksupervisory authority, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier,with registeredoffice in L-1150 Barclays Bank.Copyright © 1999-2008 COMPENSATION. All rights reserved.
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Ana said at 8:13 am on June 7th, 2009:
I´ve had someone change my password, fortunately I was able to get it back. It also happened to my boyfriend and it took him 3 months to get it back. He ended up closing his Facebook account.
Thanks for the info and for doing this.
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