Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are some of the famous social media sites used to share photos, opinions, and feelings in the Internet. These sites are also used by criminals to choose their targets.
One’s information can be used to do what is called phishing. This is the attempt to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details, often for malicious reasons, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
The suspect would send an e-mail masquerading as a trustworthy Web site. Upon clicking, the victim will be redirected to a fraudulent Web site where one’s username, password, and credit card details can be obtained by the suspect.
According to digital forensic analyst Drexx Lagui, with the holidays approaching, the victims of phishing increase, mostly females due to their tendency to shop online.
Once one has fallen victim to phishing, it is advised to find a virus-free computer and change all passwords. One should seek help from IT experts.
The victims of ATM skimming have also increased. This is done by using a camera smaller than a button, a device inserted in the card slot which copies data then transferred to unencrypted cards. Using these machines, money from another’s ATM account can be withdrawn.
Lagui advises to be alert and to check the ATM machine. It’s also better to go to ATM machines with flashing green lights in the card slot.
