MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday cautioned anew netizens against providing personal information online and clicking malicious website links.
This came after the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) logged 178 cases of "hijack profile" or identity theft cases from November 2023 to February 2024 – 89 of which or 50 percent were logged in February alone.
A "hijack profile scam" entails unauthorized access to a specific social media account.
Once infiltrated, the perpetrator typically leverages this access to send messages to the account owner’s contacts, often requesting urgent financial assistance under false pretenses.
The scammer uses various tactics to gain access to the profile, such as phishing, hacking or social engineering techniques, which are violations of Section 4 (a) (1) Illegal Access, (b) (2) Computer-related Fraud, and (3) Computer-related Identity Theft of Republic Act 10175 or Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
In a statement, ACG chief Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia said netizens must use strong, unique passwords for online accounts, enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible, be cautious about clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, and regularly monitor their online accounts for any suspicious activity.
“If you suspect that your profile has been hijacked, immediately report it to the platform or service provider, take steps to secure your account, and notify relevant authorities to avoid potential legal liabilities that may arise from unauthorized access or misuse of your online identity,” he said.
Hernia said netizens must also refrain from sharing unnecessary personal information online and look for "https://" in the URL when entering sensitive information on websites.
"By following these tips and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber identity theft. Always be proactive in managing your online presence and protecting your personal information," he added. (PNA)
