To: All Users
In the last security tips, we have provided some information about online scams and suggest users to raise their security awareness to avoid falling into online scams. In fact, protecting your privacy on social media can also prevent you from being involved in scams.
Here are two examples of disclosing privacy in social media:
1. Online romance scams
Scammers look for targets on various social platforms based on disclosed information. After getting to know the victims’ interests, scammers easily win the victims’ affection and start an online romantic relationship. Then, scammers use a plethora of reasons to ask for money. Scammers and victims never meet in real life.
2. Steal other people's photos and then commit fraud
Criminals steal other people's photos, pretend to be other people's names to open accounts on social networking platforms, and use the fake accounts to contact other target people continuously to obtain phone numbers or personal information. Relevant information is very likely to be used for various fraudulent activities.
In both examples, scammers are using information disclosed by others on the Internet to commit crimes. Just think about it, the more information a stranger knows about you, the greater your are at risk.
Here are some tips for preventing the above scams:
- Remember that the Internet is a virtual world where anyone can assume a false identity;
- Be vigilant at all times about people or messages from unknown sources;
- Properly protect personal information, and do not casually disclose personal and relatives and friends information on social networking platforms;
- Enable two-factor security authentication for social networking platform accounts to improve account security while limiting who can access your information.
Reference
Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact ICTO Help Desk.
ICTO Help Desk
Location : Room 2085, 2/F, Central Teaching Building (E5), eMap
Telephone : 8822 8600
email : icto.helpdesk@um.edu.mo
Information and Communication Technology Office
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