The Scriptures tell us a good name is to be desired. They talk about the importance of a good reputation, and we’re warned in the epistles that we will be judged by our fruit.
I’ve been pondering these ideas all week as I’ve grappled with a thwarted reputation. My Facebook account was hacked by an Imposter who went to all the trouble of setting up a fake yahoo e-mail address in my name. The Imposter, presenting himself as me on my Facebook page, then approached my friends and begged them to send money as, Imposter me explained, I had been held up by gunpoint in London and lost all my cash.
In one of those ironies you cannot plan for, earlier that day I had posted a comment on World Magazine‘s Whirled Views in which I warned that if you run into problems in a foreign land, you should contact the US Embassy! (See comment # 52 here: http://online.worldmag.com/2011/02/19/whirled-views-02-19-2/#comments)
With the help of several friends, I straightened it out, reclaimed my Facebook page and excised an ap placed by the Imposter that would enable said Imposter to continue manipulating my account.
The next day, Facebook declared my account had shown “cyber-criminal behavior,” and was frozen. As of today, Thursday, I’ve still not cleared my name with Facebook.
I’m not important in the Facebook world, except to my friends. But what if I were important and my account was hacked? What then?
Keep watch on Books & Such’s blog. I’ll be discussing this situation and others in March. 🙂
In the meantime, take my advice. Change your e-mail password frequently. Monitor your accounts. Check your security on Facebook. Guard your reputation.
A good name is easy to lose and hard to regain.
Julie Surface Johnson says
Yikes! I’ve resisted changing my password because it seemed like too much trouble. Not any more. You’ve made a believer out of me. I’m sorry that happened to you though, Michelle.
Jill Kemerer says
What a nightmare! I would feel terrible if my name had been used to dupe my friends into trying to help me when I don’t need help. I’m so glad you brought this up. I do change my password frequently. I hope everything gets straightened outn with your account. *hugs*