Beware Of ‘Malicious Tagging’ Facebook Scam: What To Know
If you’re on Facebook, then you may have stumbled upon the “malicious tagging” scam on your newsfeed. It’s when a Facebook friend tags you in a video post with the wording “Just died in an accident.” Your initial thought may be, “Oh my gosh what happened?” Or maybe you just scroll straight past it because it seems like a strange post. This is especially true if you personally know the person posting. Unfortunately, it’s all a part of a growing scam called malicious tagging. It’s when scammers hack into your friend’s account and tag you.
The links attached to the post often say things like “Look who died in an accident… I think you know him” or “Observe how they are around another spouse.” They look real at a glance, but multiple sources say they are not.
Don’t Click The Suspicious Link
According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), when you click the link, it takes you to a fake Facebook login page. It’s a way to get your login information, hack it, and take the scam further, or get your personal information loaded with your profile.
Many know that Facebook will allow you to log into other platforms through your account so it’s a uniform email password to log in. Scammers know this too. By getting into your Facebook, they can have better access to all these other accounts where you have personal information lying around so that they can steal your identity and get access to your bank accounts.
Steps To Avoid Malicious Tagging
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) outlined several steps to take when you suspect or are confronted with malicious tagging on Facebook, and sometimes when using Twitter. The BBB warns against clicking on links that contain descriptions such as, “exclusive,” “shocking” or “sensational” footage. If it sounds over the top, it’s likely a scam.
Scammers often use link-shortening sites to disguise malicious links. Don’t fall for it. If you can’t tell the destination of the link without clicking, there’s a good chance it could lead you down the wrong path.
The malicious tagging scam has impacted so many people because people assume that whatever their friends post is safe. However, you unfortunately can’t be sure your friends’ computer hasn’t been hacked. Even when it appears your friend is “liking” or sharing a link, it could also be part of a scam.
To help stop the rapid spread of this malicious tagging scam, it’s helpful to report an issue on the social media platform.
Top Mistakes That Can Get You Hacked
Reusing Passwords
Many of us are still using the same password across many different accounts. While it’s pretty common, it’s not a good habit to have. If you’re reusing passwords for multiple websites and accounts, a hacker could potentially use that password to log into those accounts. Nobody wants to have to remember a 16-digit password for every single one of their accounts, especially when getting locked out of a computer or platform at the most inconvenient time. But if a security breach were to happen, that’s one less problem to worry about. Like, remembering which accounts are at risk of a threat.
Thanakorn Lappattaranan/ Getty Images
Oversharing On Social Media
Personal data exposure is really a thing. When you share personal information on social media, you expose yourself to the risk of identity theft and fraud. According to the New York Institute of Technology, Cybercriminals can use the information you share, such as your full name, date of birth, and location, to impersonate you or launch targeted attacks. Most people know that sharing sensitive information such as your car information, address, work history, or phone numbers can make you vulnerable. But some people forget that this information can also be identified through pictures and innocent as sharing your new car photo or your child’s first day of school photo.
Suchat longthara/ Getty Images
Using Unsecure Wi-Fi
Hackers can use unsecured Wi-Fi connections to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer. Free public Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere at places like restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, and even retail outlets. But public wi-fi comes with risks. “Hackers can also use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer,” said Kaspersky, a tech company. Some people highly recommended looking into a VPN to encrypt internet traffic and keep your data hidden.
Jens Domschky/ Getty Images
Clicking Suspicious Links
Clicking on a suspicious link or phishing link can sometimes set off a malware download that often contains malicious files. According to Aura, a credit monitoring platform, these links are capable of collecting information stored on your device. Hackers can steal credit card numbers, bank account numbers, usernames and passwords, and other personal information. If you’ve clicked on a phishing link, Cyber Tec Security suggest completely disconnecting from the internet.
DragonImages/ Getty Images
Out-Of-Date Software
The last thing many of us want to do is update our software. But there are many reasons why it’s important to do so. Software updates not only fix and improve problems with your software it also helps you avoid hackers. According to the University of Idaho, software updates often include patches that fix vulnerabilities or bugs that hackers can exploit to access your system or data. “By installing the latest updates, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your personal and business information,” they said.
Ralf Hahn/ Getty ImagesNot Using Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the most effective things you can do to protect your online accounts is turning on multi-factor, or two-factor, authentication for as many of your accounts as possible. This method often uses a piece of information such as a code generated by an app or sent to your phone alongside a password. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to the authentication process. According to Tech Target, using multi-factor authentication makes it harder for attackers to gain access to a person’s devices or online accounts. Most companies have this in place for their employers but it’s something you can use for personal emails too.
tsingha25/Getty Images
