This week multiple social networking sites like Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are now starting an investigation to know about the users involved in the trafficking of user accounts across their platforms. This entire action closed thousands of accounts, the companies also say that the trade is not easy to manage by these malicious accounts.

However, the banned accounts have some active members of OGUsers. OGUsers is a forum that provides thousands of hijacked or steals accounts access to other peoples.

This community offers various services like short usernames, which are sold at thousands of dollars to those who are looking to claim these names.

Experts told that Facebook closed thousand of accounts, mainly on Instagram that is stolen or hacked and used for unauthorized access. The hackers use these accounts while executing coercion, extortion, SIM swapping, swatting, and intimidation.

Specialists Glimpses

Facebook experts said that they are targeted the accounts that are associated with OGUsers and other forums that used stolen account details. However, multiple Cybercrime organizations are running the shady characters who are of the other people. Whereas some accounts are associated with the well-repudiated people who are also called middlemen.

These Cybercrime organizations offer various services like escrow that was used to cut the total cost of the transaction by five percent and hold the buyer’s fund until he is confident that the seller has delivered the account credentials and other details that are used to control their account.

Whereas a trusted account on Instagram contains multiple screenshots of OGUsers persons, and Beam who aware the members of the uptick while growing the new user’s profiles and used that profile on other forums.

Beam has more reputation than the other forums, it saves the current and former site administrators. Moreover, OGUsers are hacked multiple times over the years and its database is also posted on various Cybercrime forums that contain the details and private messages of the users. According to the beam database there, only 12th user accounts are created in 2014.

Meanwhile, Bean also disclosed that they brokered well north of about 10,000 transactions. The leaked database of OGUsers contains the confidential information of users and also offers a small window that has the overall value of the stolen social media accounts.

While Beam sends the direct messages to the members who opt him as the middleman and they would the services of bitcoin wallet while buying the funds. Two bitcoin wallets are used while dealing with middle manning over the past couple of years and they recorded that the transaction is about 6700, which is about 243 bitcoins or about $8.5 million by today’s valuation. It is recorded that the beam would earn about $425,000 in commissions on the sales.

Beam also disclosed a person name Noah Hawkins, which declined the contacted this week.

Litigations Taken

Twitter confirmed that Facebook also banned the accounts that tied up with OGUsers and criticize the platform manipulation and spam policy. Twitter also says that the investigation is under process and we are working to check the accounts that were closed in this campaign.

TikTok said that they will also take legitimate actions towards the accounts associated with top OGUsers members and also revoke the request while reclaiming the accounts.

Cybersecurity experts said that the campaign is ongoing work and we are investigating and stop these unauthorized accounts. TikTok spokesperson also said that we recently reexamine the accounts according to our investigation and taking strong actions towards the accounts that are associated with account squatting. We will also be focused on staying ahead and protecting our user privacy policy while revoking the bad actors.

Whereas Facebook said that we are on it and we also reexamine the accounts associated with these attacks and we are done it publicly. There are no illusions between the action taken to be the company and we are going to stop this problem of reselling the accounts.

Many experts said that they are aware of the fact that the attackers may delete the content when they get the account access and the users have no option left while getting their data back.

Prevention Taken

Users have to secure their account with a unique and strong password and deploy multi-factor authentication. Use the mobile applications that generate one-time code and employ the security options given by the social media sites Facebook and Twitter, while ensuring your physical security.

Always avoid getting text messages or automated phone calls, these results in SIM swapping and stealing the social media accounts. Whereas SIM swapping deals with convincing the mobile phone organizations to transfer and target the mobile number to another device.

These precautions are also important while accessing the other email accounts. Make sure to verify the site before signing an account with any service online because they require your email address. Unfortunately, many email providers will reset the user’s passwords by sending a link on their phone numbers or on the file for the account, This will give an advantage to the hackers.

Summering Up

Almost every online service needed to set up a mobile number while opening an account. But you can also change your number with the associated account after it gets created. We also advised the users to remove the mobile numbers to their accounts if possible and use the mobile application that creates one-time code and improve the multi-factor authentication, This will increase your privacy and protect you from unauthorized access.