Help! My Account Has Been Hacked

By Kristen Miranda, Anchor

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Cybercreeps are using every trick in the trade to take money from you and your friends. A scam you need to know about involves cybercreeps hijacking your Facebook, email, or Twitter accounts to get to your friends. Former White House cyber security expert, Theresa Payton, gives us more information on how this scam works and how to protect yourself.

How to tune your antenna to spot this scam:

SHOW ME THE MONEY: Anyone that needs money wired to them quickly, it is most likely a scam.
E-CHAT ONLY CONTACT: Only communicating with you via online and not willing to let you call them.
GRAMMER: Bad grammar is usually a dead give away.
TRUST BUT VERIFY: Ask a few questions that may not be easily found on their accounts such as, "Where did we first meet?" or, "When I last saw you, what did we talk about?"

You can tell this is a real problem that others are facing. If you type "What To Do If Your Account Was Hacked" on Google and you will see over 1.8 million results!

4 tips to help you avoid this H.A.C.K.:

H: Have a routine in place to regularly change your social network passwords.
A: Always antivirus. Sometimes your account may be easy to hijack via a virus on your computer.
C: Choose a different password for each of your accounts.
K: Keep private details of your life off of social media accounts. It's harder to act like you if they can't read it in your profile.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS BEEN HACKED:

FACEBOOK:

To report this kind of scam to Facebook, visit: http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=419_scam

Facebook write up on the hacked account and money transfer scheme:

http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=420#!/help.php?page=1010

How to report your account as hacked: http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=420

TWITTER:

http://help.twitter.com/forums/10713/entries/31796

GMAIL:

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=50270

DO YOU HAVE A VIRUS?

It is possible that this scenario might have happened through a computer virus.

Stop using your home and work computer until they are checked out. Call your computer support desk or seek out a local expert to assist you with your computer to find and isolate the virus.

Microsoft provides free virus and spyware removal support to Windows customers who think they have an infected computer.

Call: 1-866-PC Safety for phone support.

Online: Microsoft customers can also visit http://safety.live.com for

free online virus and spyware removal.

Apple provides help to computer users that believe their Mac may be infected.

Call: 1-800-APL-CARE (1-800-275-2273)

Online: Set up a phone appointment

http://www.apple.com/support/expert/ or,

request an in-person appointment at your closest

Apple Store's Genius Bar:

http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ .

BANK ACCOUNTS / CREDIT CARDS:

Check your banking and credit card balances regularly after something like this occurs.

I recommend online alert services where you can set up alerts to notify you if a transaction takes place or if a transaction is over a certain amount. Go to your online banking and credit card page for more information.

CREDIT REPORT:

As a precaution, also FREEZE the credit file. Request alerts on your credit reports. .

Online:

Equifax: http://www.equifax.com

Experian: http://www.experian.com/

TransUnion: http://www.transunion.com/

North Carolina offers a free credit freeze for victims of identity theft - Go to the following website for more information:

http://www.ncdoj.gov/News-and-Alerts/Alerts/Freeze-your-credit-for-free.aspx.

LAW ENFORCEMENT / AUTHORITIES:

Engage authorities. They are committing fraud.

a. File a report at the FBI's IC3.gov.

b. She should contact the Federal Trade Commission.