This is a warning to all about social networking, social networking is not policed and is open to abuse by fraudsters and other scum that like to prey on the vulnerable.
Social networking is great for making friends, for sharing interests and uploading pictures so you can put a picture to people you are communicating online with - but beware their is a more sinister side to social networking.
The main point is that while social networking sites like Friends Reunited, Facebook,
and Myspace are the current and fun way to make friends these sites also can expose people’s personal information and ultimately highly vulnerable to fraud
and identity theft.
Millions of people are flocking to these social networking sites and passing over sensitive information that fraudsters can steal to open up accounts in their names. When people sign up for these sites the probably will probably include their date of birth, location, e-mail address, job, and marital status in the
|registration information this is exactly the information that Fraudsters can use steal their identity. See below an example of a one social networking's registration form, it really does ask for a lot of fraudster useful information, the asterix's means these fields must be completed.
Create your registration
Your First name Please enter your first name *
Your Last name Please enter your last name *
Gender Please select your gender Male Female *
Your Maiden name if applicable
Also known as Nickname or how people refer to you.
Date of birth Please select your month of birth
Please select your year of birth *
Your email address Please enter your email address *
Confirm your email The email addresses you have entered do not match *
Choose a password Please enter a password
Use letters/numbers, no spaces. 4-12 characters *
Confirm your password The passwords you have entered do not match *
Mobile phone So you can use the mobile services and text alerts later
Where do you live? Please choose the country you live in *
As you can see it's all useful information and that is just one example, to a fraudster it is so easy to duplicate your screen or place a keylog bug onto your system that then enables them to take whatever information you enter. Even if you think you are fully protected from spyware or other bugs your information can still be picked up when the information is transmitted, the cunning and determination of the fraudster should never be underestimated.
Maybe you think it's not to bad if you give the above information and somehow it is copied, it looks harmless enough, but their really is a more sinister animal on the net who's craving is to become more friendly with some vulnerable people. To be blunt the above information is a way for the online perverts to pretend they are a friend, and all they want to do is socialize online, over a period of time they such the most vulnerable into their despicable and perverted life and the results can be unimaginable.
My advise is:
A - If you are a parent then closely monitor what your kids are doing on the net.
B- -Make sure parental controls are set by your server.
C - Look carefully at anything you join online.
D - Do not pass over any sensitive information
E - If you are social networking then report anything suspicious
F - DO NOT put your picture online
I don't want to spoil anyones fun and online experience, but until l proper safeguards are in place and the internet is policed and monitored to cut out the fraudsters, and other perverted elements from abusing the social networking companies then take extreme care.
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