Cyber crime victims lose £382,000 to social media and e-mail hacks

The West Midlands Police area had the second highest number of social media and e-mail hacking incidents in England and Wales in 2020 at 630.

File photo dated 01/07/08 of a person using a computer as spreading the word on the threats posed by malicious software and cyber crime should be a Government priority, MPs have said. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday February 2, 2012. A report by the Science and Technology Select Committee published today urges the Government to launch a 'prolonged' awareness campaign on internet safety for everyday users. With state benefits and services increasingly being provided online due to a 'digital by default' policy, the report says more needs to be done to help people protect themselves when they surf the web. See PA story POLITICS Online. Photo credit should read: Adam Peck/PA Wire

Those who fell prey to the crime in the West Midlands incurred a collective financial loss of £382,400.

AddictiveTips.com, which analysed date from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau said social media and e-mails form are vulnerable to hacking by opportunistic cyber criminals looking to steal valuable information and/or money.

Overall AddictiveTips.com found that there were 13,343 cases of social media and email hacking recorded by 43 police forces from January to December.

April (1,449 cases) was the worst month, followed by May (1,358). September saw the least number of cases at 870.

The accumulative financial loss that victims suffered was £3.57 million.

Metropolitan Police had the highest amount of cases at 2,357 reports, the equivalent of six incidents per day in the capital.

West Mercia Police was in 20th place with 248 cases but a loss of only £280 in total.

In 42nd spot was Dyfed-Powys Police, with the Welsh force reporting 95 incidences of social media and email hacking. Despite having such a low sum of incidents, the amassed financial loss the 95 victims experienced was a sizeable £32,000.

The Deputy West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Waheed Saleem said: “West Midlands Police is the second largest police force in the country.

“Cybercrime and online fraud is one of the major areas that crime has changed in the past decade – with more of us putting more information online.

“Social media and the internet has so many benefits, and has proved invaluable in the pandemic to stay connected with our friends and family.

“Having a national response to cybercrime along with close links to international crime agencies is key. It is very likely that the hacker is on the other side of the world so being able to pursue criminals in this way is important.

“Having strong passwords, and not using the same one on multiple websites will help people to stay safe online.

“When ordering goods online, people should ensure that they can trust the supplier with their details.”