Facebook and Instagram users have been urged to remain cautious against suspicious links and phishing attempts that could compromise their accounts and expose personal information.
According to a warning attributed to the National Cyber Crime Agency, cybercriminals are using deceptive tactics to target social media users and gain unauthorised access to their accounts.
Security experts warn that clicking on a malicious link could redirect users to fake websites designed to look like legitimate platforms. Victims may unknowingly enter their usernames and passwords, allowing hackers to steal their login credentials.
Such links are often shared through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and other messaging applications. They may appear as attractive offers, urgent warnings or alarming messages designed to pressure users into clicking without verifying their authenticity.
Once an account is compromised, criminals may use it to impersonate the owner and contact friends or family members to request money under the pretext of a financial emergency. Hackers may also misuse personal information for fraud or other malicious activities.
How to protect your accounts
Users have been advised to take several precautions to strengthen their social media security.
They should create strong, unique passwords for their accounts and enable two-factor authentication on Facebook and Instagram to add an extra layer of protection against unauthorised logins.
Users should also avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links, even when they appear to come from familiar contacts. They should verify the authenticity of websites before entering login credentials and never share passwords or verification codes with anyone.
Experts recommend that users regularly review their account security settings and active login sessions. Anyone who suspects their account has been compromised should immediately secure it, change their password and follow the platform’s official account recovery procedures.
Following these precautions can help users reduce the risk of account hacking, identity theft and online financial fraud.
