A man is checking Facebook on his smartphone on August 01. Hong Menea
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has called on the public to guard against scams by hackers who hack Facebook accounts and steal bank account information after the ministry encountered some cases of this occurring.
“Recently, hackers have stolen Facebook accounts, Facebook pages and bank account information,” the ministry said in a press release on July 31.
The ministry added that hackers have created fake Facebook accounts with profiles and names that make it look like the messages they are sending are officially from Facebook’s administrators with the goal of tricking people into giving them their login information, and businesspeople in particular have been targeted.
The ministry explained that the hackers notify their intended victims that the page for their business was “in violation of Facebook’s policies”. The messages tell the victims that they must confirm their identity and resolve the problems by clicking on a link they give them and following the instructions or their page will be blocked.
When the user clicks on the link they are then prompted to enter confidential information like their account passwords or bank account number.
“Then the hackers steal the Facebook accounts and Facebook pages and use the bank account information to advertise on Facebook or spend it on other goods,” the ministry said.
The ministry added that Facebook never demands that users confirm their identities in this manner and they urge the public to be careful about following links in messages and to be certain of who they are giving information to.
The ministry has also called on Facebook account users to use virtual credit/debit cards with numbers that work for one transaction with a set limit for expenditure and to check their history of online transactions frequently.
“If there is something wrong you have to immediately approach your bank for help and a solution,” the ministry advised.
Telecommunications ministry secretary of state So Visothy told The Post on August 1 that the ministry had already issued many notices related to self-defence methods online and the keys to staying safe on social media and that people in need of further information should check the website of the ministry’s Cambodia Computer Emergency Response Team.
