A bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, has called on Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) to address the escalating issue of scammers and fraudsters taking over Facebook and Instagram accounts. Account takeovers involve unauthorized access, password changes, and the subsequent hijacking of user accounts, causing distress and potential harm. The attorneys general urge Meta to conduct a comprehensive review of data security practices to protect users from these scams. As social media serves as a crucial means of connection for millions, the coalition demands that Meta enhance user protection measures, allocate more resources to address this threat, and adopt new procedures for users to safeguard against account takeovers.
The recent surge in account takeover schemes has prompted heightened concern, with scammers gaining access to personal information, private messages, and the ability to pose as the legitimate account owner. Despite users’ struggles to receive adequate support from Meta, there has been a 1,000 percent increase in reported account takeover complaints to the Office of the Attorney General between 2019 and 2023. In January 2024 alone, 128 complaints were filed, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The letter from the attorneys general outlines specific steps for Meta to take, including increased staffing to handle complaints, greater investment in account takeover mitigation tactics, and the adoption of more robust procedures to protect users. The coalition emphasizes the need for Meta to treat this issue seriously and take stronger enforcement actions against scammers to address the growing problem effectively. Users experiencing account takeovers are encouraged to report the issue to Meta promptly and seek resolution through Facebook’s help center.
