Experts point out that with the increasing use of social media, digital fraud methods have also multiplied, stating that especially well-known professionals, media personalities, or individuals with popularity due to many characteristics, are targeted for account theft. Emphasizing the importance of using strong passwords, opting for two-factor authentication, and being aware of cybersecurity against account theft, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal said, “We should not open links from unknown people.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal warned that digital fraud methods have also multiplied with the increasing use of social media.
Digital fraud increased
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that with the increasing use of social media today, “Account Theft” has also risen, saying, “The theft incidents we encounter in daily life are now called digital fraud! Individuals can be blackmailed with photos, videos, or correspondence shared on Instagram, X, or any social media application, or these accounts are used to defraud large masses by promising to earn more money through product promotion/marketing activities.”
They market health-threatening products using the names of individuals perceived as opinion leaders
Emphasizing that especially well-known professionals, media personalities, or individuals with popularity due to many characteristics are targeted, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal continued:
“These individuals are preferred because they are seen as opinion leaders by society and are taken as examples for what they do and say. Since it is appealing to address the public through these individuals and reach large audiences quickly and easily, digital fraudsters take action; they seize accounts or open accounts similar to real person profiles to publish various self-serving recommendations through the person. In fact, even products with the potential to threaten people's health can be marketed. Their common fraud methods include; profiting by impersonating someone, taking payment with the promise of providing a product/service but not delivering the product or work, blackmailing someone by taking over their account and using their posts or correspondence, and creating threats in a person's life by using information obtained through stalking (covert following).”
There are clues that a social media account will be stolen
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that there are certain parameters that provide clues about whether a social media account has been stolen or will be stolen: “If it has been stolen, and if it is followed by close contacts or large audiences, phone calls from followers, and responses/feedback from different platforms can help us notice; results obtained by typing the account name in an internet browser can be checked at regular intervals, or searches can be made with the account name / similar account names on social media platforms; if there is a possibility of theft, cyber attacks might appear through URL shortening services like ‘bit.ly’ used by fake sites. Therefore, we should not open links from unknown people.”
Security vulnerabilities invite digital fraudsters
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that another view regarding accounts falling into the hands of digital fraudsters is data leakage, saying, “There has been talk of recent data leaks on Instagram or Facebook. News had also emerged about data leaks in many large companies in Turkey. It can be assumed that the seized data, in other words, hacked data, has the potential to be sold on illegal websites. Data of individuals or institutions targeted by digital fraudsters can be leaked either through hacking or other means. Failure to take security measures or existing security vulnerabilities will invite digital fraudsters.”
Criminal complaint must be filed when social media accounts are compromised
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that if social media accounts are compromised, individuals can apply to the Public Prosecutor's Office or law enforcement agencies, saying, “When a criminal complaint is filed, the prosecutor's office will be notified. In the event of an Instagram account being stolen or, in general terms, a social media account being stolen, the crime of ‘Accessing an Information System’ under Article 243 of the Turkish Penal Code occurs, and other crimes may also arise depending on the actions taken with the stolen account.”
Set strong passwords for your accounts
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal noted that strong passwords are required to keep social media accounts secure, stating, “Complex passwords containing numbers, symbols (&, ?, #, !, % etc.) and upper-lower case letters are difficult for hackers to crack. Passwords containing birth dates or phone numbers should particularly be avoided. In password content, ‘#’ and ‘@’ symbols can be preferred. Additionally, it is necessary not to use the same password on many platforms used in daily life, to renew passwords at regular intervals, and not to tell the password to others. For example, the password Üskü3dar4! is more secure than Üsküdar34!”
Do not trust messages like ‘Your account has been suspended’!
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that being aware of cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important today, concluding her words by saying, “Digital fraudsters, who abuse the benefits of digitalization, can easily infiltrate using open data obtained by exploiting people's carelessness without needing professional infiltration techniques. Recommendations for being aware of cybersecurity include; not using weak passwords, not sharing passwords with others, not clicking on links from unknown people, making security adjustments by preferring a two-factor authentication system, and not trusting messages such as ‘Your account has been suspended’, ‘Your profile will be closed within 24 hours due to copyright infringement, contact us’, and links offered as a recovery option.”