Identity Theft on Social Media: Late Belgian Minister Paul Furlan & Family Targeted

The family of the late Paul Furlan, a former Walloon Minister and mayor of Thuin, Belgium, is alerting the public to a series of fraudulent accounts impersonating him and his daughters on Instagram and Facebook. Marie Furlan announced on social media that accounts under the names “robert_tribault,” “roberttribault,” and “carolinetribault” are being used to scam individuals.

According to Furlan’s post, the perpetrators are exploiting photographs of the deceased politician and his family to establish credibility with potential victims. A message received by the family from one individual confirmed they had been targeted by the fraudulent accounts. The accounts have reportedly been active for several years, despite limited activity, and contain stolen images.

Paul Furlan died in 2023, according to reporting by The Brussels Times. He previously served as a Walloon Minister and held the position of mayor in Thuin. The family is urging users to report the accounts to Instagram and Facebook immediately.

The use of social media for identity theft is a common occurrence, with malicious actors often creating fake profiles or hacking existing accounts to defraud users. Typically, these schemes involve soliciting money from unsuspecting individuals by building trust through a seemingly legitimate online presence.