Fraudulent Identity Theft: Fake District Leaders on Instagram!

Fraudulent Identity Theft: Fake District Leaders on Instagram!

Core business of the Vienna district leaders: dissemination of information via social media. But currently several heads from the federal capital have to deal with a serious problem. They are the target of suspected internet fraudsters who use fake profiles to try to use the identities of politicians for fraudulent purposes. So reported MyDistrict that the number of these fake accounts has increased in recent years, which is a cause for concern.

Stefanie Lamp, the district leader of Ottakring, is particularly affected. Her fake profile under the name “steffi.llamp” has been active since 2021 and has changed the name several times. “I use social media to inform citizens about current initiatives and events,” explains Lamp, urging caution against fraudsters who act on their behalf.

Other affected district leaders

Ernst Nevrivy, district leader from the Danube city, also experienced a similar case. His fake profile “ernstnevrivy1” was recently deleted. There is also a fake profile for Christine Dubravac-Widholm in Brigittenau, whose name is used under “christinedubravac” without an underscore. Spokesmen for District 20 confirmed that they are actively tackling this problem and that measures have been taken to delete the fake profiles.

In addition, the Vienna Museum also warned of a fraudulent profile, which has also already been deleted. Former district leader Silvia Jankovic from the 5th district has also warned against a false profile in her name on social media. This shows how serious the situation is and that citizens should continue to be vigilant.

The dangers of the social media world

The increase in fake profiles poses a risk not only for the politicians concerned, but also for citizens themselves. The information spread through these fake accounts can be misleading and can also cause harm. A warning of caution is therefore issued by those affected and the official authorities. When scrolling through social media, it's important not only to rely on the content, but also to critically question where the information comes from.

The city of Vienna has already dealt intensively with this issue and, together with the district leaders, is preparing further measures to better inform and educate citizens. Social media is certainly a valuable tool for engaging directly with citizens, but this case shows that caution is also necessary. This remains a sensitive issue for everyone involved and requires attention.