Attorney General Ashley Moody, along with a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general, is urging Meta to take action in protecting users' accounts from scammers. In a statement, Attorney General Moody emphasized the importance of Meta's intervention in addressing the increasing issue of account takeovers on Facebook and Instagram platforms.
“Meta must do more to protect its users from hackers hijacking accounts to perpetuate scams. Today, I called on Meta to take proactive steps to mitigate this rapidly growing problem and help us stop identity theft, cybercrime and the general frustration that accompanies an account takeover,” Attorney General Moody stated.
The coalition of attorneys general highlighted the detrimental effects of account takeovers, where scammers gain unauthorized access to accounts, steal personal information, and engage in fraudulent activities. The rise in such incidents over the past year has prompted the urgent call for Meta to enhance its data-security practices and prioritize user protection.
The letter addressed to Meta outlines specific measures that the tech company should implement to combat account takeovers, including increasing staffing to address complaints, investing in mitigation tactics, and introducing multi-step authentication measures for users' security. The coalition stresses the need for Meta to enforce stricter measures against scammers to safeguard users' accounts effectively.
Users who encounter account takeovers are advised to report the incident to Meta promptly. In cases where resolution is not achieved, individuals can find guidance on addressing account takeover situations on a designated Facebook page.
Attorney General Moody is supported by attorneys general from a total of 39 states in urging Meta to prioritize user protection and combat account takeovers effectively. The collaborative effort aims to address the escalating threat posed by scammers targeting social media platforms.
To access the complete letter issued to Meta by the bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, interested parties can click here.