Did they steal your data? This is how they can use them to empty your bank accounts.

Beware! Whenever personal data is leaked on the Internet, it is not only a violation of your privacy: it is an open door to financial fraud and serious economic damage.

The worst thing is that cybercriminals know how to take advantage of this information to empty your accounts, take over your profiles and make you a victim without you realizing it, warned the Director of Engineering Solutions for Latin America at SonicWall, Juan Alejandro Aguirre.

The cybersecurity specialist explained that the data stolen from cybernauts does not remain stored in some corner of the web, but is sold, reused and actively exploited to commit fraud.

"The value of personal data stolen online is not just in its collection, but in how it is used by cybercriminals," warned Aguirre through an article published this week.

How they steal your money with your own data

The SonicWall executive indicated that digital criminals use information such as full name, date of birth, card number or even your RFC to open fake accounts, ask for loans or access financial services in your name. And many times, victims don't know it until the money has already been withdrawn.

In addition to bank fraud, personal accounts are also hijacked, from social networks and digital platforms to shopping sites, just by having your passwords leaked. If these credentials are repeated in several accounts, access is immediate.

Personalized phishing

Just by knowing your name and address, criminals create highly credible phishing messages, pretending to be your bank, internet provider or even your boss. This way they get you to hand over sensitive data yourself, without even realizing it.

"Having personal data such as names, addresses and employer information at their disposal, cybercriminals create highly targeted e-mails or text messages to trick their victims into providing more sensitive data," he said.

Your data is sold as "Fullz" on the dark web.

Complete identity packages called "Fullz," which include your medical history, card number, login credentials and more, are being marketed on the dark web. The demand for this data doesn't stop, because it can be used over and over again for new scams.

And even if you see no signs of fraud today, your data could be used months or even years later. Digital criminals store it and wait for the ideal moment to act, when a new vulnerability or oversight opens the door.

Cybercriminals and exploit networks

Some criminals specialize in gathering large data sets and selling them to other criminals. These buyers may be individuals who want to perpetrate more sophisticated attacks, such as creating synthetic identities or infiltrating corporate systems.

In essence, the dark web serves as a marketplace for this stolen data, leading to various types of cybercrime, from financial fraud to corporate espionage.

Alerts: are they using your data now?

Juan Alejandro Aguirre recommends:

• Be alert to suspicious login attempts, urgent emails requesting personal data, or strange movements in your bank accounts.
• You should also check if you receive unsolicited two-step authentication (MFA) notifications.
• Once your personal information circulates on the Internet, it is very difficult to remove it from there, so the risk is constant.
• Prevention and active vigilance are key to avoid becoming a victim of the next fraud.