Some weeks ago, I received a strange message on my Whatsapp from one of my close friends. It read, “I am in trouble away from home town, I lost my wallet, kindly send some money. I shall return it as soon I reach back,” while the person who was apparently away was with me in fact. A week ago, someone reported to me that my Instagram and Facebook are faked. Such messages of faking have become very normal today.
Fake or Hack?
Hacking is the use of technological tools to remotely access a protected electronic gadget or system. The person may access your gadget either by implanting software or accessing the login information. Thus, will make use of the information stored in it. Though hacking is unethical and cybercrime in itself since it accesses your privacy or an unauthorized entry into your personal space, there is also something called ‘ethical hacking’ done for the ‘greater good’ if the government thinks it so.
Faking is a fraud and an illegal activity. Faking is also called Phishing. This is unethical and a criminal act. It can come under cybercrime. It involves deceit or misrepresentation for financial gain. It fraudulently creates one’s ‘look-alike’ profile and tries to acquire money or other valuable assets through dishonest means.
In phishing or hacking, a fraudster collects the information voluntarily, that is by convincing someone to believe that it is the real person. Conversely, the hacker is gaining information forcefully and in an unauthorized way.
According to a report in 2017 by Taylor Soper, Facebook has billions of active daily users – in 2016: 1.86 billion, 2015: 1.6 billion, 2014: 1.4 billion, 2013: 1.2 billion,. 2012: 1.1 billion, 2011:845 million. In the world index, the Asia-Pacific region has the highest number of active users on Facebook or other social networking sites.
The report is from five years ago. Since then, the technology has grown exponentially. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the buzzword in a technological world. Covid lockdown has forced the soft media a necessary gadget for ordinary life. The sale of Android and computers have shot drastically. In countries like Brazil, India, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey, it has over 85 per cent market share. Android was launched in the year 2008. In 2016, the world saw 1.7 billion users, and in 2022 it crossed 3.1 billion users. Today, there will not be any household which has not used it.
If the users are growing in number, so too are the people who either fake or hack the system. In 2012, Facebook stated that it reported 8.7% of its users had either fake or duplicates. And today, over 426 million accounts are actioned as “Fake Accounts.” It is estimated, that fake accounts represented approximately 4-5% of the worldwide monthly active users (MAU) on Facebook during Q1 2022.
How of the Fake?
One of the effects of AI is creating a human-like robotic function operative in soft media. It creates a bot (say web robot) and functions exactly as a normal human being functions. It will send you a message (e.g.: hi, how are you, where are you? I need help, do you have google pay, I need 25,000 rupees, send me this mobile number…). At times, this may not be a bot, it could be either person or a group of people operating for financial gain. The moment you ask for a video call or direct person-to-person talk, the faker will either disappear or log out of the system.
How to deal with such illegal acts?
“BE CAREFUL” is the key while dealing with any internet-related things. Without making a double check either directly or through people do not accept invitations. Do not blindly believe in any promises offered such as, “You have won a lottery worth a billion, you are a winner, I need money, I need help, or any such lucrative things.” All that you see white is not milk.
DO NOT SHARE YOUR PASSWORD, login id, or any personal information with a stranger, even for that matter, to your close friend.
BLOCK the fake messenger and report it to the authorities. You may follow this Facebook Help option or similar steps in other social media networks.
If you have a Facebook account and want to report someone that's pretending to be you or someone you know:
1. Go to the profile of the impersonating account. If you can't find it, try searching for the name used on the profile or asking your friends if they can send you a link to it.
2. Click on the cover photo and select Report.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions for impersonation to file a report.
If you don't have a Facebook account and want to report someone who's pretending to be you or someone you know, please fill in this form.
If you think your account has been hacked, learn how to secure your account.
Hope this write-up is some help to understand what is real and fake.
Raju Felix Crasta
