FaceCrooks-Social network users now easy targets for criminals.

Petaling Jaya: Forget about bringing criminals to book,the crooks are themselves going to the book - Facebook,that is.

Many are targeting Malaysians - via their personal details posted on Facebook.
They are lifting information such as addresses,telephone numbers and even photographs for crimes ranging from drug trafficking to blackmail and sexual harassment.

Experts have criticised Malaysians for being too naive in accepting "friendship" requests from strangers.Last year alone,some 400 crimes involving Facebook were reported to a cyber security group.The trend is worrying because an international survey last year revealed that Malaysians had the most number of friends on social networking websites like Facebook with an average of 233 each - and spent up to nine hours each week logged on.

How Facebook users can avoid falling prey to cybercriminals:
1. Never post your addresses,phone number or email address.
2. Filter the photographs you choose to upload to Facebook.
3. Understand Facebook's security settings and use them.
4. Do not accept Friend Request from strangers.
5. Remember to log out of your Facebook account especially when using public computers.
6. Control who can see your personal information.
7. Don't share your password with anyone.
8. Block users who send you unwanted content.
9. Think twice before clicking on any links.
10.Use strong passwords and change your password frequently.
11.Be wary of seemingly harmless quizzes that request access to your profile information.

January 2011: > A woman in Kuala Lumpur learned that a complete stranger had uploaded her photographs on Facebook and accused her of spending all his money before dumping him.

December 2010 : > A woman in Kuching was arrested for allegedly cheating customers by operating a fake online store on Facebook.
> A teacher in Ipoh filed a police report after his Facebook account was hacked and allegations were made that he molested his students.
> The foreign Ministry claimed that Facebook was fast becoming international syndicates' hunting ground for fresh drug mules.
> An 18-year-old-student in Johor Baru was acquitted by the Sessions Court of raping an 11-year-old girl he met on Facebook.
> A secret society threatened a 13-year-old girl in Johor Baru to join the gang through her Facebook account.