Ward and Smith data privacy attorney Mayukh Sircar, CIPP/US, was interviewed by WRAL News for a recent story examining the growing problem of imposter social media accounts and online romance scams.
In the segment, titled "'You're telling me we're not dating?': Avoiding internet impersonation in the era of social media," Mayukh explains the legal challenges that arise when fraudsters use publicly available photos and information to deceive others online.
"There are two victims in this kind of situation: The victim whose identity is being used and one victim who's falling for that dupe."
Mayukh also discussed why these cases can be difficult for law enforcement to pursue, noting that fraud charges often depend on proving financial loss.
"Unless you can show, 'Hey, this person used my image to defraud tens of thousands of dollars,' sometimes law enforcement will be like, 'What's the harm?'"
Mayukh also noted that North Carolina currently lacks a comprehensive data privacy law, though computer crime statutes do offer some protection.
The story goes on to highlight the real-world impact of internet scams in North Carolina and outlines practical steps victims can take.
Watch the full WRAL News story to learn how individuals can protect themselves from internet scams, and watch Mayukh's interview.