Mmastodon TechnologyInternet first seen 18 h ago, last 12 h ago, peak #3
Scam losses from hijacked UK social media accounts up 400%
Original: Money stolen by scammers hijacking UK social media accounts rises 400% https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/oct/05/sca
Fraudsters hijacking people's social media accounts to swindle their friends and followers have taken 400% more money from UK victims, according to a Guardian report. The scammers take over accounts, then pose as the owner to ask contacts for money or exploit trusted profiles for cons. The steep rise is being flagged as a warning to users to secure accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
Why now: The sharp 400% increase in stolen funds makes account hijacking an urgent fraud trend people are warning each other about.
Rank over time, top of the chart is #1. 9 snapshots from 18 h ago to 12 h ago.
Evidence
- Money stolen by scammers hijacking UK social media accounts rises 400% https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/oct/05/scammers-hijacking-uk-social-media-accounts # Scams # SocialMedia # Crime · guardian_world@robot.villas · 2
API: https://socialmediatrends-api.osmike.com/v1/trends/1044017