Dorset Police news site

Dorset Police is sharing important measures people can take to protect their online accounts from hackers.

Social media and email hacking remain the most reported forms of cyber crime in the UK, with the number of reports also increasing by a third (34 per cent) from the previous year.

In the 2025/26 financial year, there were 435 reports of social media and email hacking in the Dorset Police force area.

Hacking, in the context of online accounts, refers to criminals gaining unauthorised access to someone’s email, social media, or other online account to commit further fraudulent activity such as impersonating the account owner to defraud family and friends by asking for money or offering fake tickets.

One of the most common themes identified from reports is compromised accounts being used to impersonate family members and friends.

This week, and as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Dorset Police is supporting a campaign by Report Fraud which is raising awareness around social media and email hacking.

As part of this, the Force is sharing some steps people can take to protect their online accounts.

Protect yourself from being hacked:

• Use passkeys wherever they are available.

They are more secure and easier to use. Where passkeys are unavailable, use strong passwords, for example generated by a password manager. You should also enable 2 Step-Verification if you can.

• Who has access to the content you’re posting?

Make sure your privacy settings are configured so that it’s only visible to the people you want to see it, for example only your friends.

• Beware of sharing personal details online

Try not to share too many personal details that a fraudster could use to build a picture of you. They can use facts, such as your birthday, where you live, family relationships or pet names to steal your identity or make their fraud more convincing.

• If you are contacted by someone you know via social media or email

Don’t automatically trust that person is who you think they are. Contact them through another route, such as in person, by sending an SMS or phoning them.

For anyone who has already been hacked:

• If you have been hacked, tell Report Fraud by making a report via its website or by calling 0300 123 2040. If you live in Scotland, cyber crime is reported to Police Scotland directly on 101.
• The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published guidance explaining what you can do to minimise the damage, and how you can regain access to your accounts. You can find this on the NCSC website.

Hannah Bird, Dorset Police’s Cyber Crime Protect and Prevention Officer, said: “We understand the impact hacking has on victims, both financially and psychologically. Many victims blame themselves, and do not understand they have been targeted, and it is in fact not their fault.

“We remain dedicated to protecting people from online scams and fraud, and part of this is ensuring they know how to secure their online accounts and spot the risks.

“The measures shared above and as highlighted by the Report Fraud campaign are vital and can help to ensure your online safety.”

Chief Superintendent Amanda Wolf, Head of Report Fraud Operations, said: "For most people, being hacked isn't just a cyber issue, it's personal. It can leave victims locked out of important accounts, worried about what information has been accessed, and concerned that criminals may use their identity to target others.

"What starts with one compromised account can quickly impact family, friends and colleagues as fraudsters exploit trusted relationships to commit further fraud.

"The good news is that there are simple steps people can take to protect themselves. Switching to passkeys and enabling two-step verification adds a strong extra layer of security and makes it much harder for criminals to gain access to your accounts.”

For more information on hacking, visit the Report Fraud website.