From Facebook and Instagram, to TikTok and Twitter, you probably post or scroll through at least one social media platform on the daily. A cute family photo from a holiday get-together, a quick update from your beach vacation … it’s all harmless, right?
Problem is, you’re exposing personal details for faux “friends” to get into your circle and possibly scam you. The more active you are online, the more important it becomes to recognize the official profiles of the people and companies you interact with.
HOW TO SPOT A FAKE
According to Statista, Facebook alone removed nearly 1.8 billion fake accounts in the fall of 2021 (including a fake IHMVCU account some of you may remember hearing about). Here are a few yes or no questions to help spot fakes in your feed:
- Does the account have a profile picture?
- Is the account more than a few weeks or months old?
- Does the account have more than just a handful of followers?
- Is there a range of content posted (photos, posts, re-posts, etc.)?
If you answered “No” to most of the questions, there’s a good chance the account is a fake. Even more so if you’re already friends with someone and their account suddenly tries to friend you again. That’s a big red flag because it means the account has been cloned. Oftentimes, the clone will send malicious links to your social circle that will allow the scammer to steal personal and financial information if clicked.
What to do if you suspect you’re a victim of fraud or identity theft:
Notify your banks and creditors. Report any suspicious activity on your card ASAP, and contact anyone else connected to the fraud incident (for example, contact your health insurance company if someone used your information with a medical care provider).
Freeze your credit. With the simple touch of a button, a credit freeze will lock down all your credit information.
Request a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert makes it harder for a scammer to open a new credit account in your name.
Reset your passwords. Once your personal information’s been compromised, there’s no telling how the criminal will use it. Be sure to change your passwords often, and never duplicate them across several sites.
Enroll in credit monitoring. Credit monitoring is a great tool to help guard against future identity theft by detecting changes in your buying habits and providing alerts on suspicious activity. Some institutions offer free, limited services while others are pay-to-play for more comprehensive scans.
PRO TIP: REPORTING FRAUD IHMVCU is committed to helping you protect yourself from identity theft and fraud. As a reminder to our members, we will never call requesting account information, including Online Branch username and password, and we will never send you an email or text to request verification of account information.
If you’ve fallen victim to a scam, call us at 309-793-6200 or 800-722-0333 so we can help.