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Fraudsters 'targeting users of social networking sites'
Feb 8 2010, 11:32 AM
An increasing number of fraudsters are using social networking sites to harvest information, it has been revealed.
According to the Independent, the Serious Fraud Office is urging the public to be cautious when posting details about themselves on Facebook and Twitter.
The organisation warned that this has now become a "primary method" of targeting victims.
In a joint operation carried out last week, police and Financial Services Authority (FSA) wrote to 10,000 people to alert them that their personal details are on a "master list" being used by criminals.
FSA spokesman Jonathan Phelan told the newspaper: "These fraudsters will sound authentic and have legitimate-looking websites, but they just want to steal your money, with little hope of you getting it back."
Research published earlier this month by UK fraud prevention service Cifas, showed that levels of identity theft rose by 32% last year, compared to 2008.
More than 80,000 Britons were illegally impersonated during 2009.
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