Computer fraud is becoming more complex as people find new ways to deceive and harm others. Simple fraud includes fake emails and spyware, while more harmful actions include soliciting minors and hacking into computer systems. Those who commit cyber fraud can face legal consequences, including fines and jail time. To protect themselves, computer users should be cautious and avoid giving personal information to strangers, paying attention to get-rich-quick schemes, and opening messages or attachments from unknown sources. Children should also be educated about safe communication on the internet.
Defining what constitutes computer fraud becomes increasingly complex with the ingenuity of people who intend to deceive, misrepresent, destroy, misappropriate information, or harm others by accessing information by deceptive and illegal means. Just as individuals need to be careful when walking down the street or in their homes when they lock their doors at night, they need to be careful of the many examples of fraud that will find their way onto their computers.
The types of cyber fraud vary and can be complex or simple. Simple types of fraud could include the following:
Sending fake emails to scare people.
Illegal use of someone else’s computer or “imposing” someone else on the Internet.
Using spyware to collect information about people.
These actions are frauds because they are deliberate misrepresentations of the truth. They progress to more harmful actions as they become more complex and include the following:
Emails requesting money in exchange for “small deposits”.
Pyramid schemes or computer-based investment schemes with the intent to take and use someone else’s money.
Emails attempting to collect personal information to be used to access and use credit cards or social security numbers.
Using someone else’s computer to access personal information with the intent to use it fraudulently.
Using the computer to solicit minors to sexual alliances.
Violate copyright laws by copying information with the intent to sell.
Hacking into computer systems to collect large amounts of information for illegal purposes.
Illegally hack into or use a computer to change information, such as grades, employment reports, etc.
Sending a computer virus or worm with the intent to destroy or mar someone else’s computer.
There are many different legal ramifications for those who engage in cyber fraud, especially when that practice can be proven harmful and physically or financially harmful to others. Most laws make a distinction between a person who knowingly commits fraud and someone who does so accidentally. For example, sending a funny letter about a potential virus is common among new computer users and isn’t actually fraudulent. Deliberately generating a funny letter to scare others is fraud with the intent to at least emotionally harm others. Generally, when a person has intentionally committed fraud with a computer, they may be subject to criminal and sometimes civil prosecution, and at a minimum will pay fines if convicted of minor fraud. People who steal information or money with a computer, either directly or through fraudulent means, can face jail time and hefty fines.
While there are stiff penalties for committing computer fraud, the laws governing them can be difficult to enforce. Some of the email scams for investment opportunities and get-rich-quick schemes originate outside the country where the victims are located, and it may be difficult to initiate investigations in foreign territory. Computer users should be cautious and engage in the following computer philosophy when surfing the Internet:
Users should not give personal information to anyone or to companies they have never heard of before. This includes your full name, address, phone number, credit card number, social security number, or information about people in your household.
Individuals should not pay attention to get-rich-quick schemes. If they sound too good to be true, they absolutely are.
Email users should not open messages from strangers. Everyone should install antivirus software and spam blocking programs.
People should never download attachments from people they don’t know.
Children should be educated about safe communication on the internet to protect them from predators.
Individuals should not keep passwords on their computer and should not use common passwords such as children’s names, birthdays or other guessable words. No one should ever give a password to anyone else.
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