Fake Facebook account impersonated NZ minister

New Zealanders are being reminded to report any suspicious activity on their Facebook accounts to CERT NZ.

Anyone who is active online can be vulnerable to having their accounts compromised or fake accounts created to trick their online communities.

“Fake Facebook accounts are a common online scam and can be used as part of social engineering campaigns to gather personal or financial information. CERT NZ is able to provide a range of advice on protecting genuine accounts,” said Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Clare Curran.

“The need for vigilance was brought home to me this week when a fake account surfaced using my identity.

“I reported the issue and followed CERT NZ’s advice, changed my Facebook password and upgraded my password protection.

“In order to further protect Facebook accounts, CERT NZ recommends people check if there have been any unexpected or suspicious logins. It’s easy to do through the settings option.

“CERT NZ also has useful information on reporting fake accounts to Facebook.

“It’s frightening to think someone is impersonating you online and CERT NZ is there to help people sort out issues and feel safe again online. Each report helps build a better understanding of the sorts of threats New Zealanders face online each day.”

CERT NZ, New Zealand’s Computer Emergency Response Team, has a range of advice on how to stay safe online on their website including a guide on cyber security and social media.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/pearleye

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