Digital identity theft occurs when a user impersonates another person to a third party. The purpose is usually illegal, or intended to cause harm or commit fraud. It is an increasingly common activity online, especially on social media.

We can categorise identity theft offences into three main groups:

• When it results in debt and financial problems.
• If it leads to personal problems.
• Leading to data theft and unauthorised access.

Some common cases we may encounter, which lead to financial problems, are as follows:

• Using another user’s data to take out services (telephony, utilities, etc.).
• Applying for credit, bank loans, or obtaining financing.

In these cases, the impostor has been using the services for several months without making payments. Companies take some time to make a claim, which gives them sufficient leeway. It is at that point that the victim becomes aware that someone has used their name, data, and documents to take out services or purchase products.

The victim may not realise it until they try to take out a phone line or carry out a transaction with their bank.

Identity theft online.

Online identity theft is increasingly common, and another of its aims is to harm the victim in their professional, family, or personal life by impersonating them to damage their honour and image.

We may find the following scenarios:

• Creating fake profiles on social media or messaging apps using another person’s data and photos. The aim is to contact their friends and family to send inappropriate messages, disclose private information, or spread rumours.
  This identity theft on social media also leads users to share information with the cybercriminal that they would only share with the person whose identity is being stolen.
• Using a user’s contact details and photos on contact sites, dating websites and apps, or adult-content websites, with the intention of causing the victim to start receiving calls and messages, as well as damaging their honour.
  This type of identity theft severely harms their personal online reputation and digital identity, and can lead to serious personal problems.
• Identity theft through the creation of a fake social media profile or dating apps using the victim’s photos to gain followers or online dates. Typically, the offender does not know the victim, and the intent does not involve an online scam against the victim, but it may do so for users who interact with the fake profile.

Phishing.

Another very common technique for identity theft is phishing. The motivation for selecting the victim is solely that they have been chosen as an easy target, not for personal reasons.

Cybercriminals use “traps” with the intention of stealing bank details, usernames and passwords, etc.

It is usually carried out via emails (through a link) or websites that imitate legitimate pages (such as a bank). By accessing these platforms, the user enters their login details, which then leads to cyber fraud (such as bank transfers to accounts belonging to the scammers). Victims of these crimes can be individuals and companies.

At onBranding, we work to protect digital identity and online reputation. We keep monitoring active and protect devices and systems to prevent third parties from taking advantage of security breaches.

If you have had problems with unauthorised access to your personal accounts, if you have detected third parties using your image, or if you suspect they may be harming your reputation, please contact us.

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