Internet crimes, such as identity theft, scams, and cyberstalking, are a growing problem for law enforcement agencies worldwide. Perpetrators are difficult to catch due to their geographic diversity. To avoid becoming a victim, remain vigilant, never give out personal information, and file a complaint with the Internet Crime Compliant Center if necessary.
While the internet has made life easier in many ways, it’s smart to worry about internet crimes. Cybercrime is becoming a growing problem for law enforcement agencies around the world. Unfortunately, since internet crimes typically involve people from many different geographies, catching and punishing the perpetrators is a difficult task.
One of the most common types of internet crime is identity theft. This crime involves unscrupulous individuals attempting to steal your personal information for profit. They could drain your bank account, make unauthorized charges to your credit card, or open new accounts in your name, and never pay the resulting bills. Identity Theft Internet crimes are often committed through phishing or spoofing, the practice of creating fake websites or e-mail messages that trick the victim into divulging personal information. Some computer viruses can also be used to collect personal information for identity theft crimes.
Internet scams that cater to the wishes of financially desperate individuals are also growing in popularity. These Internet crimes may involve requiring the victim to illegally ship goods back to overseas locations, make fraudulent wire transfers, or advertise non-existent merchandise for sale on behalf of a third party. In general, if you see an advertisement that promises large monetary rewards for little effort, it’s smart to be wary. It is possible to make money online, but legitimate business opportunities require a substantial investment of your time and skills.
Cyberstalking is a type of Internet crime that is of particular concern to teenagers and young adults. Social networking websites like MySpace make it very easy for criminals to learn private details about a victim’s hobbies, interests, friends, family, and daily schedule. Internet cyberstalking crimes can also lead to sexual assaults if the perpetrator is able to get the victim to come in for a one-on-one meeting.
To avoid becoming a victim of Internet crime, it is important to remain vigilant when using your computer. Never give out personal information such as your full name, date of birth, address or social security number unless you understand what the information will be used for. Also, remember that people you meet online may not always represent themselves truthfully. Be wary of claims that seem exaggerated or difficult to verify.
If you believe you may be the victim of an Internet crime, your best course of action is to file a formal complaint with the Internet Crime Compliant Center. Also known as IC3, this organization is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center. IC3 works with federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies to identify patterns in Internet crime.
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