U.S. Department of Homeland Security sometimes creates fake facebook and twitter accounts to spy on people. Often times using questionable methods in the process.
Befriended by any super hot chicks lately on facebook?
Be careful – it could be a rouse or trick to get information from you.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly creates fake Twitter and Facebook profiles in a bid to track down people who use “sensitive” words. many people don’t know that.
Beware…
This may include creating profiles of women who are extremely good looking! Or if you’re a woman a man who seem too good to be true.
In one case foreign operatives clipped a picture of a beautiful woman out of a leading fashion magazine and then used it as a “profile picture” to bait some poor slob working overseas with the US government on classified projects.
Words to the wise!
You have to be careful of who you friend online.
That person might not be who you think or who they pretend to be online.
Now law enforcement agencies are using the same method to foreign spies use to get information.
They do this so they can investigate individuals and their activities, as well map all their social connections online. One group Preverted Justice uses child profiles to lure sexual predators who prey on children online and lures them to a physical address where the cops are awaiting to bust them. Spies also do the same sometimes, using “honeytraps” and other methods.
Watch what you post online – they could be listening!
If anyone uses a word or phrase from the department’s list, like say “bomb”, “nuclear weapon”, or even phrases like “ my Iranian friend”…American spies are sometimes alerted to the posts. If it warrants it, an over paid intelligence analyst will even take a look at it to see once if you’re a national security or terrorism threat.
They subsequently investigate the online account in some cases and even attempt to identify the person from it, the Daily Mail reported.
“This kind of thing happens more than you might know”, says Bill Haggarman of Charlotte, N.C. “The public is just unaware of it”, he said.
Private Security Consultant Andy Beary of Charlotte says: “You hear of this sort of thing happening every once in a while.”
“Social networking sites are a spies best friends”, says John Smith of Charlotte, N.C. “Where else can you get so much personal information on someone all in one place”, he says.
Most people have a facebook or twitter account which they use to communicate with friends and family. Various spy agencies will sometimes use that information to find someone who may know something they want to find out about! They will sometimes create a fake profile to trick you into divulging personal information about yourself. law enforcment does the same thing. It is called: “Pretexting”, it basically means pretending to be someone your not.
Best advice is to be careful what you post.
“If you would not feel comfortable seeing that information on the front page of your local newspaper you shouldn’t post it to begin with”, says Dean Bauer of Charlotte, N.C. – an internet security specialist now retired.
This is really good advice!
Robert Tilford