WASHINGTON D.C. — Hackers are using YouTube to advertise stolen credit card and Social Security numbers for sale.
Eyewitness News reporter Jacqueline Fell found out how companies are making millions off the illegal videos, and talked to a Charlotte victim who is worried his personal information may never be safe again.
Bert Lampley is one of the millions of victims from Target's data breach last November.
"Right around Christmas time, it actually completely eliminated our entire checking account," Lampley said.
That historic data breach prompted a new report just released from the Digital Citizens Alliance. The report found thieves are routinely selling stolen credit card numbers and other personal information on YouTube.
The Internet Safety Research Group even called one of the hackers promising credit card information, Social Security numbers and more.
Digital Citizens Alliance said this is an $18 million illicit industry. Google, which owns YouTube, said its guidelines prohibit content that encourages illegal activity and it removes millions of videos each year.
The alliance said Google profits off of these videos, and it's worried it gives the Internet company less of an incentive to take the videos down.
Another problem is advertisements are placed next to the videos, and the group said that can be confusing to customers.
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