A group of 40 state attorneys general have raised alarm over the increasing number of consumer complaints regarding account takeovers and lockouts on Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta. Account takeovers occur when malicious actors gain access to users' accounts, change passwords, and engage in harmful or illegal activities such as posting unauthorized content, reading private messages, and scamming contacts.
The attorneys general have urged Meta to enhance its efforts in preventing account takeovers and to promptly address users whose accounts have been compromised. They have requested Meta to provide data on the frequency of account takeovers in the past five years, the potential causes of the surge in such incidents, and the security measures in place.
The letter emphasized the emotional distress experienced by users upon discovering that their accounts have been taken over, especially considering the personal and professional information shared on these platforms. The financial risks associated with account takeovers were also highlighted, as users may have businesses or financial details linked to their social media accounts.
Meta responded by acknowledging the evolving tactics of scammers and emphasized its substantial investments in enforcement teams and detection tools to identify compromised accounts and fraudulent activities. The company stated that it regularly provides users with tips to safeguard their accounts, encourages reporting of potential violations, collaborates with law enforcement agencies, and pursues legal actions against offenders.
