{
  "id": 17597773,
  "title": "A gift to scammers: why you should probably keep your birthday a secret",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/a-gift-to-scammers-why-you-should-probably-keep-your-birthday-a-secret-17597773",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-01T07:00:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Technology",
    "slug": "guardian-technology",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/nov/01/do-not-share-date-of-birth-online-scam-fraudsters-advice"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Don't divulge your birthday online if you want to thwart scammers. Using a fabricated date of birth or leaving the field vacant when creating a digital profile can offer a layer of defense against identity theft, according to cybersecurity experts. When an online account is breached, your personal details, including name, address, and date of birth, may fall into the hands of cybercriminals. These details can be combined with other information, such as names and phone numbers, to impersonate individuals, commit identity fraud, or craft convincing phishing emails, all of which can lead to further financial loss and damage to one's reputation. Jake Moore, a cybersecurity adviser for ESET, warns that data obtained through hacks can be sold on the dark web and used to trick people into trusting scammers or impersonate them. Alexandre François, a fraud investigator at WhoisXML API, found that eight out of 14 retailers surveyed asked for a date of birth during sign-up. Retailers may not remove this field, as it aids in marketing and targeting, as it provides customers' ages, which is useful for targeted promotions. Once personal data is breached, its exposure increases. Hackers can use this information, along with additional data points, such as social media profiles, employment details, and relatives' information, to build a comprehensive identity profile. This enriched data enhances the confidence in their fraudulent activities, making it more challenging for victims to discern legitimate from fraudulent communications. To minimize the risk of falling victim to identity theft, it is advisable to refrain from entering your real date of birth on low-risk websites or use a fabricated one. Additionally, consider using a separate email address for online shopping, enabling you to dispose of the email if it becomes compromised in a data breach. Keep in mind that while some retailers require your payment card information and a delivery address, strict age verification is only necessary for age-restricted items. Your real date of birth should only be provided when verifying your identity with banks, lenders, tax offices, driving licence and passport agencies, right-to-work checks, or police notices.",
  "summary": "Using a fake DOB or leaving the field blank when making an online account can offer protection from identity theft You get a call from your bank saying there has been suspicious activity on your account. They read out your name, address and date of birth so you are happy it is a legitimate caller. But you are talking to criminals who have used your date of birth as part of a web of verifying…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}