WARNINGS on how to stay safe online have been issued after after £1.3million lost from hacked email and social media account scams last year.
Action Fraud has launched a campaign, which is being backed by West Midlands Police, to help people stay safe online and prevent their accounts from being hacked.
The campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers of email and social media hacking, which can have serious consequences.
Hackers can steal personal information, financial details, and even use compromised accounts to target others.
More than 22,500 people had their social media or email accounts hacked last year, new data shows.
Data from Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, shows that 22,530 people reported that their online accounts had been hacked in 2023, with victims losing a total of £1.3million.
In the West Midlands, there were 1,012 reports of email and social media accounts being hacked with £21,700 in losses reported in the last 12 months.
Khatija Nichols, Fraud and Cyber Protect Coordinator for West Midlands Police, said: “In today’s digital world, anyone with an email or social media account is a potential target for fraudsters and cyberattacks.
“As technology advances and fraudsters become more sophisticated, it’s important to take action and secure your online accounts. This means using strong, unique passwords for each account and enabling two-step verification for an additional layer of protection.
“Remember, your password and verification codes are your keys to your online identity – never share them with anyone.”
If anyone has been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, they should report it at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Suspicious emails should also be sent to SERS at [email protected].
For more on how to protect online account click here.
