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Report: Social Networks Aid Identity Theft

  • BBC News, Monday, July 23, 2007 10:48 AM

Everybody scream. Users of social networks like MySpace and Facebook put themselves at a greater risk of identity theft, according to a new report from UK-based Equifax. Why? Common sense would tell you that users of these sites make personally identifiable information publicly available. One consequence of this is fraudsters using that personal information to apply for credit cards and benefits.

As Neil Munroe, external affairs director for Equifax says, "More and more consumers are signing up to these sites every day, and chances are they'll put on their date of birth, location, e-mail, job and marital status."

The group advised that people limit the amount of personal information they make available about themselves online, especially items like date of birth or the names of children, spouses and pets--a good idea if you use any of these names as passwords. Again, common sense.

Read the whole story at BBC News »

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