I have enjoyed being a member of Facebook for quite a while now. I compare it to reading a daily newspaper that is all news about people I know! But up until yesterday, I had just heard about people whose accounts had been “hacked”, but now I’ve experienced it personally. Yesterday morning when I signed into FB, someone had used the info on my FB page to create a duplicate of my page and then “replace” me a Sandra Reed Herman! They have then contacted people on my friends list pretending to be me. I’m guessing at least one reason to do this is to progress to asking for money.
Anyway, I have spent the last 24 hours notifying my Facebook friends and, in turn, hearing about contacts they’ve received from the hacker posing as me. I’ve also received alot of information from helpful friends and relatives about what to do about it.
The bottom line of all this is that I have decided that the best defense against being victimized, in this or any other way, is communication!
Soooo, I’m writing about this here today as one of the many ways I am getting the word out about guarding against this (for example, by making your privacy settings on any web-based site as exclusive as possible, while still reaching those you want to reach — as well as not allowing someone you don’t know or seems suspicious to be in contact with you). Yes, young people, that includes those “cool” guys on the other side of the country who want to strike up a web-only-based friendship/relationship with you!
As I write this, it seems clear that this applies to many facets of or lives — don’t be a silent victim. If you are being taken advantaged of or victimized in any way, fight back by telling someone or many people who can help you. Not only will you received help and/or guidance in how to not be a victim, but you speaking up may encourage someone else to do the same.
“Silent” and “victim” should never go together!
ps BTW, I especially liked what one of my FB friends (who ISN’T a police officer) messaged me about what she told “the other Sandra” when he/she contacted her on instant message: Her message to me:
“someone messaged me telling me they got 200,000 cash from the government did I get mine I said I was a police officer and that we will catch them then they blocked me”
You go, girl! With answers like that, it won’t take long for the person to realize they have hacked into a list of very smart, verbal people and will move on.
