The Federal Bureau of Investigation says that the Internet has all but dissipated the international boundaries to crime. The nature of today's free world trade and the infrastructure that trade freedom requires have opened wide new avenues of exploitation for crooks and confidence games of many kinds. The worst part is that yesterday's mugger with a mask and a gun has become today's friendly banker who is offering you a low interest loan. The tactics are changing but the result is the same. Someone wants a chunk of your bank account... or the whole thing.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center issued a composite list of the top ten Internet facilitated crimes. Of all Internet associated crimes reported, auction fraud was number one, holding that spot with 44.9% of the total reported crimes. Non-delivery of goods came in a distant second at 19% of the total. Check fraud, credit card fraud and computer fraud combined for about 12% of the total. Financial center fraud, identity theft, investment fraud and child pornography rounded out the field with about 5% combined total.
What makes these numbers even more startling is the fact that the FBI now needs to maintain legal attaches in nearly 60 countries as support to FBI personnel. In all, our Federal Bureau of Investigation conducts crime suppression and investigation efforts in as many as 200 foreign countries as well as continually maintaining deeply intensive enforcement efforts right here at home. These international efforts are expensive, unwieldy and near impossible to administrate but are necessary none the less.
A few things that you can do to aid in the effort to thwart international crime are the same things that help protect you right where you live. Keep a tight wrap on your important identification numbers. Demand clear and convincing identification from anyone soliciting any information from you. Use intermediaries you trust as liaisons to assist you in various business transactions. Keep your computer security as up to date as possible and carefully screen all incoming communications of any type.
The two best rules for you to follow and use are older than either you or me:
1.) If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
2.) Never be afraid to ask someone you trust if you're about to do something stupid.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-10-2007 @ 10:12PM
DeLoris said...
A draft was issued to me by CBN, Nigeria, and was sent to Barclays Bank, NY, and then on to London,
at which time British Monetary Bureau stopped payment for Anti-Terrorists fees of $16,000 plus.
That Bureau said they sent it to First Union Finace
Compay, London. I was then notified that their
couriers had been arrested in Dubai.
Within three days I am told that Customs & Immigration Service in Dubai has my funds and un-
less I go there and pay $4,000.00 for the damage
caused by First Union Finance Company's couriers
they willl confiscate my funds.
twinlady3327@yahoo.com