Results

With more and more people accessing the Internet these days for everything from shopping to social networking to medical consultations via live web feed, it’s no surprise that web crimes and scams are also on the rise. But just how bad is it getting? The Associated Press recently released an article stating that losses from online scams hit a record high in the last fiscal year. Even though there were fewer reported crimes, total losses across the board were estimated at about $240 million, which means higher losses than have ever been previously reported. John Hambrick, a spokesperson for the Internet Crime Complaint Center, attributes the losses to “new scheming techniques and generally more expensive electronic items being purchased online.” It certainly seems logical and likely. But with such a startling jump in apparent losses, what can be done to stop the scamming?

The best way of defending yourself is to be able to recognize a scam. While it’s probably true that there are many different scams in the online world, there are a few particular ones that you can easily recognize. According to the FBI, there are four extremely popular types of Internet scams. Though the individual cases may vary, the most popular scams out there (as of 2007) will generally fall into one of these categories. They are as follows:

PET SCAMS: Very few legitimate pet retailers will sell animals online due to varying state laws prohibiting it. Thoroughly research who you are buying a pet from if you chose to do in over the Internet. More often then not, those who claim to be selling these pets are running a scam and will run off with your money as soon as they get it. Also, the FBI warns to be careful if you yourself are trying to sell pets online. People have been conned out of money by scammers over-paying for the pet and requesting the seller to wire them back the difference, only to discover that the original check was bad. These types of crimes are on the rise, so Internet surfers need to be careful.

SECRET SHOPPERS: Most people have probably seen advertisements online to become a secret shopper, and while some of them are legitimate, many of these ads are the work of scammers. According to the FBI, this works similarly to the pet scam: “You’ve been hired via the Web to rate your experiences while shopping or dining. You’re paid by check and asked to wire a percentage of the money to a third party. Like the pet scam, the check is bad and you’re out the money you sent.” They also warn that many scammers will illegally use logos and images from legitimate companies in order to trick their victims, so it is important to be careful and astute.

ADOPTION/CHARITY FRAUDS: With this type of scam, potential victims are sent heart wrenching emails about children in need, and how an immediate donation is needed in order to help these poor children. The names of real charitable organizations are often use to give the claim a sense of legitimacy. When making these types of online donations, it is crucial that you do so at the official website and not through a random ad.

ROMANCE FRAUD: There are many potential pitfalls in the online dating scene, but there is a very serious type of scam present as well. Someone you meet in a chat room, and whom you’ve grown to like after talking with them online, says that he or she wants to meet up with you, but doesn’t have the money, and wonders if you will lend it. You wire the money for the trip. As the FBI warns, “Typically, that’s just the beginning—the person may end up in the hospital during the trip or get mugged and need more money, etc.” This only adds to the list of reasons why online dating can be risky.

Addressing the issue of the increase in online scams, FBI spokeswoman Cathy Milhoan had this to say: “The scammer tries to prey on victims who are kind of in tune with what’s going on in the world. The scam changes, but ultimately they’re preying on the good will of people.” As more and more people incorporate the use of the Internet into their daily lives, it becomes that much more vital for people know what to look out for when they are online. With the losses of Internet scams growing at such an alarming rate, educating the public on how to protect themselves and their bank accounts should be a top priority.

Friday, April 4th, 2008 You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

By Michael Gorvin