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Facebook cloning is a social engineering technique, in which fraudsters create your twin account or face profile using your publically available pictures, also a kind of identity theft. Facebook has about 3 billion of fake profiles, which amounts for 5% monthly active accounts and they are increasing rapidly in this period of crisis. A study shows 43% increase in social media frauds, this is not a new trend, and this has been seen since the time from when facebook came into existence.
In users should be really carefully as to what they share on facebook to the public. When the fraudsters create an account from your name, they use your date of birth, your selfies, pictures, to make it look just like your account. Then they add your acquaintances, your friends, and your family.
What do they do with this twin account?
They send inappropriate messages to your knowns, and deface you reputed image. Also known as defamation defined under section 499 of the IPC, punishable under section 500 of the same, with imprisonment of upto 2 years or fine or both. The definition of defamation now includes words, spoken of written, either electronically or in documents, by signs or by visible representation, that harms or intends to harm the reputation of the person, after the IT Act, 2000.
The person can also be charged with section 469 of the which is about the forgery of a document or electronic record, in which there is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine. Also with section 503( criminal intimidation: for threatening the reputation of the person.) imprisonment(under section 506) of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Section 66A of the IT act also applied, for sending any information which he knows to be false, but for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, or ill will, persistently makes by making use of such computer resource or a communication device.
The fraudster can send message to people using your account, asking for money. This will charged under section 468, for committing forgery, intending that the document or electronic record forged, used for the purpose of cheating, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. Section 66D also applies for using any communication device or computer resource cheats by personating, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to one lakh rupees of either description for a term.
Also identity theft in itself is a crime defined under section 66C of the IT Act, which says any person who fraudulently or dishonestly make use of the electronic signature, password or any other unique identification feature of any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine with may extend to rupees one lakh.
The fake account can also try to shut you down after reporting you and ask your friends to do the same.
It can also send malicious links to your knowns to steal their data and use it in anyway they want to commit any crime they want.
How would you know, if your account has been cloned? Search your name in the facebook itself and try to find someone with the same images as you.
You can also take your picture and stick it in the Google search by image option, if your account is cloned, a profile with your image will show up. If the damage has already been done, then report that account and alert your friends and family.
How can you prevent yourself from being cloned?
- Hide your profile from public via privacy settings, selecting only friends can see your pictures and information.
- Do not accept friend requests from unknown people, they maybe fraudsters.
- Do not share your date of birth on facebook, even you have to, keep the year to yourself.
- Check how your profile looks to the public, via the public view.
- As your profile picture is public, either don’t use your picture or use some other photo
By Sukriti Verma:
New topic interesting one
Awsome article
Informative topic it was. Got to know alot of information regarding Facebook id cloning.
The topic is undoubtedly interesting but we know we can’t trace the hackers. This was the similar case by orkut when the govt asked for data from orkut it refused to deliver the information and the government didn’t have any jurisdiction. JURISDICTION is one of the major loophole in cyber space .
As someone who has been targeted once for something like this, the experience can be quite stressful. It all boils down to how careful we are on social media and how informed we are about our own safety.
Facebook cloning is a matter of serious concern and must be demotivated. Many a times, a lot of people make fake profiles for fun but some may have a different intention which can prove to be fatal. Facebook must be made a safer place as the profiles are public. Verification of profiles, where the user, with the use of some id can encrypt the information available can reduce the risk of facebook cloning to an extent.
I have recently experienced this. I had recieved a request from another account that had a profile picture of me and also there were other pictures of me, the name was also kept as mine. I further reported the account and also said my friends to do the same.
It is a good article for young generation as well as for older generation. Everyone uses facebook and mostly people are very careless about their social media account.
Very informative and well structured article.
Mam you told some intresting thing about which I have seen very less articles regarding this
It was very informative topic. Got to know alot of information regarding Facebook cloning.
Well a nice article which contains a lot of information
Various times multiple users have faced this issue and due to such things many people have stopped using facebook altogether this is important to be very careful and cautious while using social media .
Really good article it really help me to understand things easily
Informative article, noted new terms and understood the laws
Very Informative Article easy to understand
A very nicely written article depting that how the facebook account can be a prey to cyber crimes. Especially when someone has created a clone account out of your account. The article brings about a lot of awareness amongst the people over keeping a lot of precautions and care while using the facebook accounts, etc. The article at basic level is truely informative for everyone.
The article is well written as it deals with issues like identity theft, defamation, privacy, forgery etc. As the article mentions around 3 billion fake account were reported, thus it is a serious concern.
A very informative article, been come across one of the victims (a singer ) i personally know , i am aware of how frustrating it can be for one to deal with it . Imagine someone copies your name, posts your pictures, requests your friend to be friends and defames you by posting unacceptable content and abusing your seniors at work using your name and you have no idea who it is r what to do about it. Its just a terrible feeling. We had to report again and again and provide identity verification to finally get the account taken down. This article would certainly help people what to do to keep them safe from such attacks, a very interesting and required article indeed.
A much required article for today’s generation everyone uses Facebook and don’t even check authenticity of the user ,not even the Facebook does it, sometimes don’t even check the link they are using to open the Facebook for any other social media as it can be case of phishing it can be case of cloning for any other attack. Many people tries to harm others identity by creating their fake profiles and sharing their images with some vulgar content or some content which can harm their dignity. we must be very particular about our information to be public private or protected. today’s world “data is power” so we must take care that no one uses our data against us.