Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is warning Iowans of a surge in social media account takeovers, with nearly 400 incidents reported to her office in 2024. These takeovers, often involving stolen login credentials and passwords, enable scammers to impersonate users, exploit personal information, and target friends and family for scams. Bird says, “Many Iowans spend years building networks and profiles on social media. When a scammer takes over, masquerading as these Iowans or sabotaging their hard work, it is easy to feel helpless. The good news is we can take action to stop it. My team is committed to helping Iowans recover their accounts and preventing future takeovers.” Businesses are particularly vulnerable, as they rely on social media to engage with customers. In one case, hackers hijacked an Iowa woman’s personal and professional Facebook accounts, including the Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum page. Locked out for nearly a year, she faced significant disruptions to fundraising and outreach efforts. She regained access only after contacting the Attorney General’s office. To protect accounts, Bird urges Iowans to use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, avoid suspicious links, and monitor account activity. Iowans facing account takeovers can contact the Attorney General’s office at 888-777-4590 or file a report online using the link included with this story on our website.
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