Has anyone ever stolen your identity on social media to make a fake account? I had this happen to me recently and received a call from a very angry woman in Texas. Once I figured out what was going on and helped her to understand what happened, I decided to dig deeper into “Digital Impersonation,” to help others learn how to protect online accounts.
Digital impersonation involves the creation of a fake or false online identity for various purposes like cyberstalking, online defamation, fraud, etc. It has become a growing trend in recent years, and the impact of this behavior is significant.
The problem with digital impersonation is that it allows people to hide online, making it harder to identify the culprits. People who use digital identity can damage the reputation of a company, individual, or organization by posting false or defamatory content on the internet.
One of the most common forms of digital impersonation is catfishing. Catfishing involves creating a fake identity, often using stolen images and personal information of other people, and then using it to lure unsuspecting victims into romantic relationships. The average victim lost $15,000 to catfishing in 2021. Impersonators will often hide their true identity, which makes it difficult for the victims to discover the truth about the person they are talking to.
Another form of digital impersonation is cyberstalking. Perpetrators will usually create fake online identities to stalk or harass individuals. They’ll write harmful things about their victim on social media, send threatening or harassing messages or intimidatory statements that can cause emotional distress and physical harm to their victims. Cyberstalking can be more dangerous than traditional stalking because the perpetrators can hide behind anonymity and reach their targets pretty easily.
If someone is cyberstalking to you, here are some steps to take:
1. Ask the perpetrator to stop. Once you no longer consent to communication, they are legally required to stop.
2. If they continue to communicate, save all evidence. Every conversation should be saved and keep a diary or journal chronologically.
3. File a police report.
4. If they are contacting you using a specific app, file a complaint with that app provider.
5. Contact a lawyer to file a restraining order.
Everyone deserves to feel save on and off line.
In addition, fake online identities are also used for financial fraud. Scammers and fraudsters will often create convincing online personas to gain access to people’s financial information or extract money from the victim. This method is commonly referred to as “phishing,” where the cybercriminal impersonates a legitimate company or person to trick the victim into providing their personal and financial details.
So how can people protect themselves from digital impersonation? The truth is there’s no foolproof method to defend oneself entirely against digital impersonation. Cybercriminals always come up with new tactics and technology to keep themselves ahead. However, some essential precautions can prevent these cybercrimes:
1. Be aware of the risks of online anonymity: Before sharing any personal information online, think about the risks involved. Do not put too much personal info online or share too much with strangers.
2. Protection of Social Media Accounts: Keep your social media accounts private, set strong passwords, and avoid accepting friend requests from unknown people. If you are trying to meet new people online, click on the profile and verify it is a real account and not a bot. By spending 15 seconds to verify that a user is who they say they are can save you headaches down the road.
3. Verify the identity of the people: When you receive emails from unknown sources, do not open any attachments, avoid clicking on any undecipherable links, or replying to any such communications in case of doubt. Attachments as small at 7KB can wipe out sector zero on your hard drive meaning your computer will never boot again. Don’t click on links that you aren’t expecting.
4. Avoid oversharing of personal information online: Try to avoid sharing too much about your personal life online. Cybercriminals tend to target people who put too much personal information on their online platforms. Also, be careful about sharing your location constantly. If you post that you are leaving for one week vacation, criminals can move from online to actually breaking into your home.
5. Use a reputable Antivirus and Firewall Application: With the right antivirus application and excellent firewall settings, you can significantly reduce the risks of identity theft or other problematic activities.
In conclusion, digital impersonation is a serious issue that can cause damage to people’s lives, reputations, and finances. To reduce the risk of being a victim, it’s necessary to take basic cyber safety precautions, avoid exposing too much personal information, and build awareness of the risks associated with online anonymity. While no system or safety guideline is foolproof, it’s imperative to identify and educate yourself in the ever-evolving threats.