| With the evolution of computerization and rapid growth | | | | can use widely available email address locator |
| of technology, we have not only seen new types of | | | | software to conduct nationwide or worldwide |
| crimes, but the nature of these crimes has changed as | | | | searches of chat rooms and Internet directories in a |
| a result of increasing technological capacities. Certainly | | | | very short period of time. In this way, fraud |
| there has been some empirical study of these | | | | perpetrators can easily collect millions of valid email |
| computer crimes, most of which has been performed | | | | addresses for individuals or companies likely to be |
| by private security companies largely along the lines of | | | | vulnerable to certain types of fake schemes. "Nigerian |
| a risk assessment for particular industries. While these | | | | 419 Fraud" is one of the popular email frauds. |
| inquiries have provided new insights, they have | | | | Spammers can also get email addresses from online |
| normally been unpublished and narrowly focused. | | | | membership directories of any Internet service |
| Internet Crimes | | | | providers (ISP). Some spammers also use free |
| The Internet has opened a number of opportunities for | | | | software that randomly generates email addresses. |
| hackers and various new problems for law | | | | Thus, online users can get spam even if they have |
| enforcement agencies. What is striking is the size of | | | | never entered information in any directory or chat |
| the Internet market and the relative ease, high speed | | | | groups. |
| and low cost with which a scam can flourish over the | | | | Web Police |
| Internet. Victims may never have the chance to see or | | | | Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) of FBI is dealing |
| even speak to the attackers. | | | | with majority of internet and other computer related |
| Credit Card Frauds | | | | crimes. |
| Credit card fraud is the most common Internet crime. | | | | IFCC's purpose is the following: |
| Main reason is approximately 95% of Internet | | | | · \"To develop a national strategy to address |
| transactions originate from credit cards. Due to this, | | | | Internet fraud; |
| various different methods to perform credit card fraud | | | | · To develop criminal Internet fraud cases and |
| on Internet have been created. The most popular | | | | refer for criminal prosecutions companies and |
| methods for acquiring credit card information include | | | | individuals responsible; |
| stolen credit card numbers, and credit card number | | | | · To reduce the amount of economic loss by |
| generators software. Although these are the most | | | | Internet fraud throughout the United States; |
| popular methods today, Internet crime is constantly | | | | · To receive, analyze and refer all fraudulent |
| increasing and fraud perpetrators are developing new | | | | activity identified on the Internet; |
| advanced methods as merchants create new | | | | · To identify current crime trends over the |
| procedures to fight against fraud. | | | | Internet; |
| Stealing credit card numbers is the most common and | | | | · To track fraud facilitated by the Internet and |
| the easiest way to perform Internet crimes. Majority of | | | | provide analytical support of Internet crime trends |
| the stolen credit card numbers used on the Internet | | | | Criminals have adapted the advanced computer |
| normally come from the physical shops. There are | | | | technology to enhance their activities. Unfortunately, |
| very few cases of credit card numbers being stolen | | | | their actions have defeated the ability of web police to |
| over the Internet. Any person can pick up old | | | | respond effectively. Rules must be developed for web |
| statements or receipts, or can even be a waitress or | | | | police that address various categories of computer |
| waiter who processes your dinner bill. Apart from | | | | crime. They should know the materials to search and |
| credit card numbers, a fraud perpetrator can also get | | | | seize the electronic evidence to recover. Without |
| personal information of any person. With this personal | | | | question, web police must be better prepared to deal |
| information and credit card number, fraud perpetrator | | | | with the many aspects of computer related crimes. |
| can purchase expensive items over internet. | | | | Government should train, increase and coordinate their |
| Credit card number generators are free softwares | | | | resources. ISP should also help web police by |
| that are easily available on the Internet. These | | | | maintaing their customer's email and session record. |
| softwares are used by fraud perpetrators to create | | | | Online vendors should be prohibited from storing |
| valid credit card numbers by brute force method or by | | | | information regarding customers without proper |
| stolen algorithm. These generated credit card numbers | | | | protection of privacy interests. |
| can easily pass the majority of online transaction. | | | | Ways to Protect Computer and Information |
| Combined with free or anonymous email accounts, | | | | In this growing world of technology if we want to be |
| these card numbers can also be used to make illegal | | | | safe and protect our personal information then we |
| purchase over Internet. | | | | must consider some precautions like storing personal |
| Online Auction Frauds | | | | information in encrypted format, constantly checking |
| People may not deliver products, or their price may be | | | | activities performed in computer, using hard-to-guess |
| overstated. In 1998, the National Consumers League | | | | passwords, monitoring credit card and bank account |
| (NCL) placed auction crimes at the top of its list of | | | | activities regularly, and monitoring activities of our |
| Internet crimes and warned all users to investigate any | | | | children. Computer usage can also be restricted by |
| seller or auction site before placing a bid. The FBI, | | | | using passwords on sensitive information like credit |
| which received more than 15,000 complaints about | | | | card number. Apart from these methods they are |
| Internet auction crimes in 1998 and 1999, has also | | | | other commercial software, called "firewall", to protect |
| issued similar warnings. | | | | any computer from hackers. A firewall can monitor all |
| Email Fraud | | | | activities performed on the computer; it can also |
| Email fraud is related to spamming, online users are | | | | restrict access to the computer. |
| bombarded with unwanted fake commercial or | | | | There are many issues of computer crime such |
| personal email (called "spam") advertising fraudulent | | | | breaking in to computer systems just for fun, attacks |
| products or investment schemes. Thousands of email | | | | by company employees, virus creators, illegal software |
| messages can be sent out in a very short amount of | | | | distribution and internet frauds. Computer crime is still |
| time. Fraud perpetrators can easily purchase email | | | | one of the main problems faced by law enforcement |
| address lists from other legal companies. They also | | | | agencies. |