Social media makes it easy to stay connected with friends, family, and our communities. We share vacation photos, celebrate milestones, and post everyday updates without giving much thought to who might be watching. But information that seems harmless to us can be valuable to cybercriminals.
Fraudsters can use publicly available social media information to learn about you, make their scams more convincing, and potentially gain access to your accounts or personal information.
At First Pacific Bank, we believe awareness is one of the best defenses against cybercrime. Understanding how fraudsters use information shared online can help you protect your identity, financial accounts, and personal information.
How Fraudsters Use Social Media
Cybercriminals often research their targets before attempting a scam. Social media can give them pieces of information they can use to build a more complete picture of you.
They may look for:
- Full names and nicknames
- Birthdays
- Family members’ names
- Pet names
- Employer and job information
- Schools attended
- Hobbies and interests
- Travel plans and locations
When combined, these details can help fraudsters create personalized phishing messages, impersonate someone you know, or attempt to access your accounts.
What Your Posts Reveal
Even everyday posts can unintentionally provide useful information.
- Vacation posts: Real-time travel updates can reveal that you’re away from home or provide details about your itinerary. Consider sharing photos after you return and limiting location sharing.
- Birthday posts: Your full birthdate may be used to verify your identity. Avoid publicly sharing your birth year or photos containing personal information.
- Family and personal details: Pet names, children’s names, schools, favorite teams, and other personal details may provide answers to security questions or clues to passwords.
Simple Ways to Protect Yourself
You don’t need to stop using social media to stay safer. A few simple habits can help:
Review your privacy settings. Limit who can view your posts and profile information. Review tagged photos and disable unnecessary location sharing.
Think before you post. Ask yourself whether a post reveals your location, personal information, or details someone could use to impersonate you or access an account.
Strengthen your account security.
- Use unique passwords for every account.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Keep apps and devices updated.
- Be cautious with unexpected messages, links, and friend requests.
- Never share verification codes with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Think Before You Post
Cybersecurity threats don’t always start with a suspicious email or phone call. Sometimes, they begin with information willingly shared online.
By limiting what you share, reviewing your privacy settings, and securing your accounts, you can make it harder for cybercriminals to target you.
First Pacific Bank is committed to helping our clients stay informed and protect their businesses and finances. If you suspect fraudulent activity involving your First Pacific Bank account, contact us immediately.
