For Generation Z, the world has become accessible with just one tap. Daily activities, ranging from checking social media in the morning to sending money to friends, making online purchases, and simplifying work with AI tools, happen in seconds. Although digital platforms have significantly eased life, they have also led people to the habit of sharing personal information.
This raises the question of how well the digital identity—formed from data such as phone numbers, email addresses, banking information, and geolocation—is protected. In this era of convenience, the risk of cyber fraud and identity theft is increasing. The responsibility for preventing these threats lies with both the companies collecting the data and the users themselves.
When registering for a new application or making an online payment, users often have to provide their personal details, including mobile phone numbers, email addresses, names, and places of residence. Many users agree to the terms without reading them carefully. When the same information is passed to various platforms, a significant part of their digital identity becomes accessible to numerous companies and services.
This data can fall into the hands of cybercriminals. Fraudsters use methods such as phishing links, fake websites, fraudulent customer support numbers, OTP scams, and social media account hacking. In many cases, criminals create fake accounts using a person's identity or attempt financial fraud in their name.
Cybercrime methods are also evolving. Artificial intelligence has improved digital services, but it is also being used to create new, more sophisticated fraud schemes. Technologies such as deepfake videos, synthetic voices, fake digital identities, and document manipulation make it difficult to distinguish between real and fake.
It is now easier to call acquaintances and demand money using that acquaintance's voice, or to create fake videos using a person's face. Because of this, relying solely on passwords or OTPs to ensure digital identity security is insufficient.
According to Rohit Mittal, Director of Financial Crimes at Lexis Nexus Risk Solutions, consumers using digital services expect convenience and are not hesitant to share personal information for quick access to services. This increases the responsibility of service providers who collect and process this data.
Rohit Mittal states: 'Today's digital consumers expect convenience and are willing to share their personal and identity-related data for quick access to services. Consequently, service providers who collect and manage this information are responsible for its security and should not compromise consumer trust.'
He also notes that fraudsters are increasingly using generative AI to conduct complex types of fraud, including deepfakes, synthetic identities, and forged identification documents. Therefore, companies should not rely on just one method of verifying information or identity.
In the expert's opinion, to assess fraud risk and understand a user's identity, it is necessary to analyze various indicators related to their complete digital activity. These indicators include transaction context, digital identity information, device data, and user behavior.
This verification should be conducted not only during account creation but at every stage, such as logging in, making payments, or updating account information. If suspicious activity is detected, additional verification may be performed. However, real customers should avoid the need to undergo multiple unnecessary procedures.
Responsibility for digital security does not lie only with companies. Users must also exercise caution by using strong passwords, implementing two-factor authentication, avoiding unknown links, and not granting unnecessary permissions to applications.
Fast and convenient services in the digital world are important, but security is no less critical. For Generation Z, the challenge is not only mastering new technologies but also using their digital identity wisely and keeping it safe.
