Concerns over spate of identity theft on social media

The increasing rate of identity theft is now a great concern to security operatives and IT experts in Nigeria, Daily Trust has learnt. As the world’s dependency on the Internet keeps growing on a daily basis, online identity theft and social media impersonation have become more rampant and many have lost their hard earned money […]

The increasing rate of identity theft is now a great concern to security operatives and IT experts in Nigeria, Daily Trust has learnt.
As the world’s dependency on the Internet keeps growing on a daily basis, online identity theft and social media impersonation have become more rampant and many have lost their hard earned money to it.
Cyber Security experts described it as a crime that is difficult to control and has become increasingly complex because offenders adapt to target individuals or corporate organisations and identify new sources of data and other relevant information key to achieving their mission.
Identity theft can multiple forms of frauds or impersonation to deceive members of the public and those stealing other people’s Identity, could go a long way in destroying everything such as identify or perpetrate all forms of evil with it.
Currently, many Nigerian actors, musicians, super rich and politicians are currently facing the challenge of identity theft especially on social media platforms with multiple accounts.
In 2009, Facebook commenced its restriction on popular names and started reviewing applications from users for ‘reserved names’. Reserved names prevent impostors from using the names or even variations of the names of famous people.
In 2011, names which were similar to hundreds of famous people were removed from Facebook to prevent online impersonation. Jeff Bezos, Aliko Dangote, Brad Pitt and Barack Obama were a few examples of the reserved famous names.
Once a name is tagged as a ‘reserved name’, it becomes very difficult, if not impossible for anyone but the beneficiary of the reservation to set up a Facebook account. A Facebook name can be reserved via www.facebook.com/username, following the instructions.
Reservation of a Facebook account entails a confirmation process whereby the applicant provides details of a website, specific bio details and in some cases, an interview is also conducted.
Twitter has also implemented the reservation of name system.  Despite various verification measures put in place by Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to prevent identify theft, increasing cases of impersonations of Nigerian businessmen and celebrities generally is a cause for serious concern.
Honeywell Flour Mills Limited chairman, Otunba Oba Otudeko disclaimed Facebook account is still running as impostors keep portraying themselves as him.
Also, the Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye had cause to announce in the papers that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General K.T.J. Minimah, did not own a Facebook account or profile.
Currently, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Awijau Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Femi Gbajabiamila and a host of other important personalities in Nigeria  have multiple fake accounts running on social media either know or unknown to them especially Facebook.
Some people have fallen victims of jobs scam through most of these fake social media accounts of politicians especially on facebook. A facebook account in the name of the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule was use to solicit funds for widows just two weeks after she assumed office while multiple accounts of the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode’s is also running as suggested friends to many facebook to users.
Barrister Basil Udotai the Nigerian 2015 Cyber security law has two provisions to address identity theft related crimes. According to him, the law provides opportunities for police or whoever is being petitioned to enforce the pursuit against individual or group of people culpable in identify theft.
However, there is need for sufficient information on the part of the law enforcement agencies to isolate the conduct and link it with individual who might have committed the offence.
A technology security expert, Mr Vince Onyekwelu described identify theft as a new situation that is developing every day.
Onyekwelu who is an ex British police officer said educating Nigerians is a critical measure in the fight against identity theft. According to him, it is important for politicians and super rich people as well as celebrities to protect their image by ensuring that they observe security tools on their social media accounts.
He also stressed the need for awareness by top class people in the society from time to time on the state of their activities on social and it’s should also be made known if they have such accounts.
Onyekwelu said, “Its a situation that can be difficult in country like Nigeria where cyber security is very poor, a lot of our security experts don’t even understand how to use computer professionally. The button line is for education, training, research and development to first of all understand how these social media tools work. How to set up security system on social media, the idea of people been able to copy my name or anybody’s name to open another facebook page or account is very difficult to control.”