CYBERCRIMES - INTERNET SCAMS

As the E-card industry has grown, Internet scam artists have begun utilizing it. They do this by "phishing," sending emails indicating that the flowers for your loved one will not be delivered unless you re-enter your credit card information. Other methods include sending E-cards that serve as a cover-up for phishing scams. The recipient will receive an email that contains a website link. The link will look like it goes to a legitimate company, but will redirect you to a deceptive website. Once at this website the user will be asked for personal information, and the scam artist will then use that information to steal the user's identity.

Other types of scam emails include the 'secret admirer' email. It instructs the user to click on an email link to receive a special message of love. By doing so, it will enable malicious software like spyware or key-loggers to secretly download onto the user's computer, allowing scammers to spy on all your computer activity.

(Source: SCAM watch)

Here are some tips from the FBI that you can use to avoid becoming a victim of internet fraud:

• Immediately delete suspicious emails.
• Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) email.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited email.
• Be cautious of email claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
• Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal information.
• Always compare the link in the email to the link that you are actually directed to.
• Log on to the official website, instead of "linking" to it from an unsolicited email.
• Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the email to verify if the email is genuine.

(Source: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse)

How can businesses protect against identity theft?

Learn how cybercrime may impact your business. The effects of cybercrimes on businesses are measured in terms of monetary loss and system downtime, with reports of Internet scams growing in 2008. Last year more than $264 million was lost in 275,284 complaints, according to the 2008 Internet Crime Report. Almost one-third of the complaints were for non-delivery of merchandise purchased online; auction fraud accounted for one in four complaints. Learn more about complaints filed, perpetrator characteristics and the top Internet scams of 2008 in the 2008 Internet Crime Report.

(Source:Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2008 Internet Crime report)

In 2007 the Internet Crime Complain Center (IC3) received at total of 4,981 complaints from the state of Arizona.

Of those complaints:
Credit Card Fraud - 10.5%
Computer Fraud - 5.3%
ID Theft - 4.4%

Amount lost by fraud type for individuals reporting monetary loss:
Credit Card Fraud - $352.91 Median loss per complaint
Computer Fraud - $1,000.00 Median loss per complaint
ID Theft - $736.70 Median loss per complaint

(Source: Internet Crime Complaint Center)

• Install antivirus software, and keep virus signatures up to date.
• Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open unsolicited email messages.
• Use caution when visiting untrusted websites.
• Use caution when downloading and installing applications.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (PDF) document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks.

(Source: United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team)

03.17.09

"Protect yourself from becoming a victim of these scams;
make sure your virus protection software is up to date."

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