Internet Fraud
Fraud is defined as the act of deceiving people in order to convince them to give up (or cheat them into losing) money or other valued asset. While fraud in the real world is nothing new, Internet Fraud is a relatively recent phenomenon. Internet Fraud is on the rise, as fraudsters and con artists continue to find new ways to use the Internet to scam innocent consumers.
Fraud over the Internet is popular because of its anonymity, ease of promotion, and lack of borders. It used to be that fraudsters required intelligence to persuade people face-to-face. With the advent of the Internet comes a natural increase in fraud. More importantly, fraudsters no longer need to be face-to-face.
Fraud on the Internet includes, but is not limited to:
- Fraudulent or fake web sites
- Untrustworthy web sites
- Phishing for personal information with fraudulent emails
- Fake online auctions by both buyers and sellers
- Advance fee scams (Nigerian 419, lotteries)
- Business opportunities and work-from-home scams
- International modem dialing and cramming
- Credit card fraud
Fraudsters are always on the lookout for the latest technology to use for malicious gain. But that's where you can fight back. By employing the proper security tools and staying informed, you can reduce the risk that you, too, will be fooled by an Internet scam.
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