'Losing Facebook is more dangerous than losing a bank account'

If their social media accounts are stolen and their information is leaked, people can be impersonated to borrow money, or have their images used to scam people everywhere, according to expert Ngo Minh Hieu.

Experts from the National Cyber ​​Security and Monitoring Center issued the warning at a workshop on building a safe environment for workers, organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and Lao Dong newspaper on the afternoon of April 17.

Mr. Hieu analyzed that losing a bank account only loses money, but losing a Facebook account can expose information and images, and criminals can easily impersonate users to scam friends on the list to borrow money. They can even cut and paste information and images of victims and then impersonate them to scam or buy and sell information on the "black market" online.

Cybersecurity expert Ngo Minh Hieu at the workshop on the afternoon of April 17. Photo: To The

Losing Facebook accounts and exposing personal information often comes from posts set to "public for the world to see", users rarely change their passwords or change them to easy-to-guess ones.

Mr. Hieu emphasized that hackers always look for the weakest loopholes, and humans are that loophole, easily clicking on links or downloading malicious files and activating them. If infected with malware, in just a few seconds, users can have all their data and information stored on their devices stolen. Therefore, users should slow down to verify everything, to prevent information from being leaked or leaked.

Major Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Head of Department 5, Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention, said that illegal credit in cyberspace is as explosive as in real life. Hundreds of lending applications exist online, and the borrowers are mostly workers and laborers.

Black credit lines are often colluded by three groups, including foreigners who directly build, manage technology, operate platforms and lending apps; loan shark companies that directly use lending apps and collection companies, payment intermediaries to disburse and collect debts and interest from customers.

Their method is to divide the department into small units, work in many different places, frequently change locations and intermediary units to pay customers' loans. Everything from disbursement to consultation is done online, using "junk" phone SIM cards to remind them to collect debts.

Major Le Anh Tuan warns about the tricks of black credit criminals in cyberspace. Photo: To The

In the first quarter of 2024, Hanoi City Police cracked down on 15 more cases and subjects related to illegal credit compared to the same period in 2023. Last year, the police discovered, investigated, and prosecuted 32 cases with 118 subjects.

Major Le Van Uoc, Deputy Head of the Economic Security Department, Hanoi Police, said that this is only a small number because workers are afraid of trouble, do not report, fear retaliation or worry that the police will clarify the purpose of the loan used for improper purposes. Police have checked the area and found 48 companies in 6 industrial parks reporting being harassed by debt collectors related to 137 workers with debts. Of these, 88 people borrowed through licensed financial companies and banks, 9 people through mobile phone applications and money lending websites - an unlicensed type.

Some people borrow 50 million VND urgently, but the actual interest rate is much higher than advertised. Borrowers are unable to pay regularly, so they are often subject to very high penalty interest and overdue debt. In some cases of borrowing through the app, the actual interest rate can be up to 365 to 730% per year.

"Workers think it's simple and will pay off their debt in a short time, but the reality is much more complicated," he warned.

Installment loan flyer posted in front of workers' dormitory in Thang Long Industrial Park (Hanoi), late 2022. Photo: Hong Chieu

Authorities predict that high-tech crimes will increase with many new methods and tricks. Major Le Anh Tuan suggested that the Vietnam Trade Union propose to the National Assembly, the Government and ministries to gradually complete legal documents related to this type of crime. When coordinating tasks, parties need to define the scope of management and operational responsibilities to avoid overlap.

For now, social media users should have self-protection skills when going online, expert Ngo Minh Hieu recommends. Specifically, do not install strange applications, only install official applications that have been verified. Social media users should share posts in a mode that friends can see, not make them public, and increase security by regularly changing application passwords.

Mr. Hieu warned users not to click on attachments and links unless you are sure they come from a legitimate source, and to use an email scanner to verify before opening. Additionally, disk wiping software should be used to eliminate the possibility of recovering sensitive data, as simply deleting and emptying the recycle bin is not enough.

Hong Chieu

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/mat-facebook-nguy-hiem-hon-mat-tai-khoan-ngan-hang-4735638.html