14 Things Hackers Can Do with Your Data
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13. Take Over Your Social Media Accounts and Impersonate You
This sounds very petty and a waste of time, but fraudsters can actually use your friends and family members to make a quick buck. There is a scam called ‘social engineering’, where scammers will hack your social networks, like Facebook and email, and send the following messages to unsuspecting family and friends: “I’m on vacation abroad, I lost my wallet, and now I can’t get home. Will you wire me some money right away?” The hackers will count on the good faith of your friends to send funds. This is a cruel trick that could not only effect you, but your relationships, too. If you ever receive a message like this, ask yourself, “Is cousin/friend really in Peru?” and “Would (friend or family) send me an email asking for money without a phone call?” It pays to be suspicious, you could save yourself a lot of money and hassle.
