Amina Arraf was a 35-year-old woman who lived in Syria.
She was an outspoken critic of the Syrian government, and a blogger who wrote about her daily struggles in the country.
One day, her cousin wrote on the blog that Amina had been abducted.
Amina’s kidnapping sparked outcry around the world.
The Guardian, The New York Times, CNN, and several other news organizations reported on the kidnapping.
And several U.S. government officials were asked how the U.S. would respond to the incident.
But, after Amina was abducted, some bloggers questioned her identity.
You see, some of the photos that Amina posted on her blog were of a Croatian woman who lived in Britain and had no relation to Syria or the blog.
Online detectives soon discovered that Amina might not be who she claimed.
The sleuths connected Amina to an American man living in Britain named Thomas M.
Soon after the discovery was made, Thomas posted on Amina’s blog.
He took full responsibility for the blog and the false reports of the kidnapping.
After Thomas was caught impersonating a Syrian woman, he wrote two books and is a professor at a college in Georgia.
Now, it should come as no surprise that the World Wide Web is a hotbed of false identities and deception.
People use fake online identities to scam and commit crimes all day long.
But should you use an online identity for safety and security?
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you have ever thought about using a fake identity online:
Benefits:
One of the best things about using a fake online identity is that you can avoid unwanted communication.
For instance, let’s say you want an estimate to have a window replaced at your home.
Instead of giving the company all your real information you could use an online name.
This way you can avoid unwanted sales calls or emails if you choose not to do business with them.
Another benefit is that it could keep search engine results from being connected to your name.
For example, let’s say you are looking for a new job and don’t want your boss to know.
By searching under a different name, you want tip your current employer off.
Lastly, if you like to post on social media there will obviously be people who disagree with your opinions.
And if you don’t want to worry about online stalkers, using a fake identity is a good way to stay private.
Drawbacks:
There is a fine line you don’t want to cross when using a fake identity.
For example, if you are completing an online government document, police report, or credit application, you obviously want to use your true name.
Also, some websites will have policies about using your true identity.
Of course, the worst thing they would probably do is kick you off the website.
Another drawback to using a false identity is that it won’t help you if you are trying to build a following or create a positive online reputation.
Before posting, sharing, or doing anything tied to your name online you need to pause.
Ask yourself if you would be okay sharing this information with the whole world and putting your name behind it.
If not, you might want to consider using a different name online.
This simple tactic of obscuring your true identity is just one tactic you can use to help secure your private information online.
It’s a decent start, but to truly keep you protected, you need a comprehensive plan for you and your family.
