Social media activities fuel growth in identity fraud
A high social media presence increases the ease with which criminals can steal your identity for online fraud.
Card fraud in the UK rose 41 per cent last year to reach 82,608 cases, representing 44 per cent of all fraud cases (189,108) cases recorded by Cifas in its annual fraud report.
"In today’s world, much of what we do is online. Not only is it an easy and convenient way for us to do everyday tasks such as banking and shopping, but it also provides a way for us to network on both a professional and personal level," said the Cifas report. "Ofcom research in 2018 revealed that nine in 10 adults use the internet, with more than three-quarters having a presence on social media or messaging sites and apps."
According to the report, senior citizens were more vulnerable to fall for card fraud, with more than 33,000 victims of identity fraud in 2018. Among those under 21, the number was nearly 3,000. About 65 per cent of the victims had some sort of a social media presence, allowing scam artists to harvest crucial personal data.
"Younger victims of impersonation had a high social media presence and could easily have their identities pieced together through the information available on various sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. In such cases, their details were being used by fraudsters primarily for payday loans and mobile phone contracts," said the report.
"Of particular interest was that personal information had not just been stolen from profiles that were currently used, but also profiles that were no longer in use but had not been deactivated and deleted. Such profiles are often forgotten about, but remain in the public domain, revealing a wealth of personal information," it added
Exacerbating the situation is the fact that the incidence of user documents exposed online has phenomenally increased. Security company Digital Shadows last month released its report titled ‘Too Much Information: The Sequel’, which found 2.3 billion exposed files in online file stores, including customer data such as passport scans and bank statements, as well as business information such as credentials to company systems.
"In our ‘Too Much Information’ report published last year, we spotted just over 1.5 billion files,
thinking that alone was incredible. Using the same proprietary research technology, we’ve now detected an additional 750 million files," said the report. Out of these, 98 million personal data reports were from the UK, it added.
Third-party and supply-chain leaks have also added to their bit in worsening the situation, said the Digital Shadows report. Over 1,000 security practitioners surveyed for the report in the United States and the United Kingdom said that 59 per cent of their organisations had been hit by a data breach because of a third party.
"Gone is the myth that personal information is just sold on the dark web," said the Cifas report. "This research shows that forums on the normal surface web play a pivotal role in the illicit trade of personal information. In one forum that had ostensibly been set up for sharing problems about telecommunications, 98 per cent of the posts in one month were in relation to selling personal information."
Identity fraud has become easier to perpetrate than ever, said Mark Crichton, senior director at US-based cyber-security company OneSpan.
"Various factors – the shift to online banking, social media profiles laden with personal information, and regular data breaches – mean that our personal data is strewn across the web. It’s remarkably simple now for criminals to get hold of everything they need to hack accounts or make fraudulent bank or loan applications," he said.
source scmagazineuk
Industry: Cyber Security
Latest Jobs
-
- Senior Client Microsoft Security Delivery Consultant - Hybrid (London | Remote)
- London
- N/A
-
Senior Client Microsoft Security Delivery Consultant - Hybrid (London | Remote) We are seeking an experienced technical Security Consultant to help clients deploy and enhance their cyber defences across Microsoft and vulnerability management technologies. You will work with enterprise customers to deliver tailored solutions across threat detection, endpoint protection and exposure management, ensuring security platforms are efficient, integrated and aligned with operational goals. Whilst you won't do the design yourself- you will work alongside technical Presales to document, agree and then deliver the solution. You will have experience leading delivery the implementation and improvement projects, providing hands-on support with configuration, integration and optimisation. You will assess existing environments, recommend enhancements and guide clients on best practice to strengthen visibility and control. Strong experience with SIEM, XDR and vulnerability tooling (Microsoft & Tenable ecosystems ideal) Understanding of Azure security, identity and access controls Background in consulting or project-based cyber delivery Clear communication skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders Extra points if you have the SC-100. You must be eligible to achieve UK Security Clearance to be considered for this role.
-
- Account Director | Cyber Security Consulting | UK - South East
- London
- N/A
-
Account Director | Cyber Security Consulting - Financial Services | UK - South East. New Role due to Growth We are looking for an experienced Account Director to develop and expand existing relationships across the financial services sector, working with investment firms, asset managers, private equity groups and strategic partners to deliver intelligent cyber consulting and a bespoke Cyber product offerings. You will act as a trusted advisor, helping organisations strengthen digital resilience, manage third-party and regulatory risk and adopt a proactive approach to cyber assurance. Key Responsibilities Manage a defined portfolio of financial clients, understanding business priorities and aligning tailored cyber solutions. Drive new client engagement while nurturing existing partnerships through a consultative, long-term approach. Present the benefits of advanced cyber services including threat intelligence, vulnerability management, incident readiness, and continuous risk monitoring. Collaborate with technical and delivery teams to ensure smooth engagement from proposal through to implementation and ongoing support. Prepare proposals, negotiate commercial terms, and clearly articulate value and business outcomes. Build trusted relationships at senior and board level. Ideal Profile Strong background in cybersecurity, consulting, or risk management within financial services. Skilled communicator with proven success managing and growing key accounts. Able to translate complex technical insight into commercial and strategic value for clients. Confident engaging with senior stakeholders and decision makers. Please note: Sponsorship is not available.
-
- SOC Analyst- Level 2- Hybrid Greater London
- London
- N/A
-
SOC Analyst- Level 2- Hybrid Greater London New opportunity created through continued growth. We’re looking for a SOC Analyst (Level 2) to strengthen a growing managed security team. You’ll work hands-on with Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR, investigating alerts, responding to incidents, and helping improve how clients stay protected. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys unravelling security events, thinking critically under pressure, and making a real difference day to day. What you’ll do · Investigate and respond to security activity across SIEM and endpoint tools · Analyse network and log data to uncover real threats · Support automation initiatives to streamline response processes · Help maintain visibility, data flow, and performance across SOC platforms What you’ll need · Practical experience using Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR · Confident working with KQL or similar query languages · Understanding of attacker tactics and response techniques · SC-200 certifications would be nice. · Experience supporting multiple customer environments Please note: Sponsorship is not available.
-
- Senior SOC Engineer - UK - New role due to growth
- London
- N/A
-
Senior SOC Engineer – New role due to growth We are hiring a Senior SOC Engineer to take the lead across security operations for a growing managed service. You will lead detection, response and onboarding activity across multiple clients, helping shape how the SOC evolves. Expect variety; from fine-tuning alerts and threat hunting to supporting customers and mentoring junior analysts. What you’ll bring · Strong experience across SIEM, EDR, and threat detection tools · Confident working with customers in a managed service environment · Skilled in scripting or query languages such as KQL or PowerShell · Knowledge of frameworks like NIST, ISO27001, MITRE ATT&CK · Calm communicator with a problem-solving mindset · Experience with Azure Lighthouse or delegated access models · Prior involvement in automation or SOC improvement projects Location: South East England- Hybrid role Please note: Sponsorship cannot be offered now or in the future.