Facebook/myspace fraud risk for millions

Monday, 12 November 2007 12:00

A quarter of people using social networking sites are putting themselves at risk of identity fraud.

One in four of the 10.8 million people registered to a social networking site - such as Facebook, myspace or bebo - are posting confidential or personal information such as their phone number, address or email, research for the government's Get Safe Online campaign reveals.

"Of those using social networking sites, 87 per cent have their full name and 38 per cent their date of birth on their profile," said Neil Munroe, external affairs director at Equifax.

"Twenty-seven per cent place their education history online and 26 per cent do the same with their work history."

The research shows women are more cautious with their personal details - but are more likely to give their dates of birth.

Tony Neate, managing director of GetSafeOnline.org, said: "Although some of these details may seem harmless, they actually provide rich pickings for criminals.

"Your date of birth and where you live is enough for someone to set up a credit card in your name. So whilst most people wouldn't give this information to a stranger in real life, they will happily post it online where people they don't know can see it."

Mr Munroe added: "It's terrifying how little information fraudsters need to be able to open accounts in an individual's name, rack up huge debts and leave the victim, at best to spend hundreds of hours sorting out the problem and at worse, picking up the bill."

Making an email address available publicly also puts a person at risk of being hit by spammers and phishing emails.

Cabinet Office minister Gillian Merron said: "The internet is a fantastic tool, whether you use it at home, in school, at your local library or at work. The risks we are highlighting today can be easily fixed and do not mean that people should stop using social networking sites and wireless networks.

"People simply need to take a few basic steps and simple precautions which they can find by going to www.getsafeonline.org to help keep themselves, their families and their businesses safe online."

Get Safe Online did, however, reveal Brits are taking the message of internet security on board.

Some 88 per cent of internet users now have some form of internet security software in place, such as a firewall or anti-spyware or anti-virus protection.

• Tags:
• bank accounts
,
• news
,
• phishing