Internet: A Tool for Global Crime
Kaitlyn Toomes
February 18, 2011
12:43PM
Internet: A Tool for Global Crime
Global crime has grown exponentially in the past century with new advancements in technology that allow faster communication around the world. However, until the Internet was invented the world's thieves never had a convenient tool for scamming, stealing, or forging. However, as this article shows the Internet has only improved criminals chances at finding out personal information we so casually place on the Internet. In May of 2008 thirty-eight Internet scammers in a global crime ring were accused of "tricking thousands of Internet users into handing over personal information, such as names, credit card data, and Social Security information." The Romanian crime ring swindled millions of dollars from their victims by "target[ing] thousands of financial institutions with unsolicited spam e-mails. The spam messages attempted to lure victims to fraudulent Web sites that appeared to be from legitimate sources."
The more available the Internet becomes the more criminals are using the Internet as a tool for committing crime. Think about it, how many people do you know who have e-mail accounts, facebook or other social networking sites, use online banking, or surf the net daily. Most likely you do something on the Internet that risks exposing your personal information to the world. Although crime has always been a social problem, Internet crime has not. The Internet is still relatively new to most the world. On Yahoo!'s daily news feed there is usually a story about tips to protect Internet users from the criminals out to access personal information. However, there are thousands of spam e-mails sent daily, new friends added to facebook pages, and hackers just waiting for you to make the wrong move while on the Internet. So what can we do to protect our identity and money? It is simple really, do no give out personal information on the Internet. The entire facebook community really does not need to know your birthday, hometown, or mothers maiden name, you can simply run by the bank to check statements, and most importantly you do not have to read every e-mail that is sent your way. To stop this social problem from spreading we most be cautious when dealing with our personal information and realize that the Internet is helpful, helpful to law abiding citizens and to the criminals wanting our information.
Source:
38 Scammers Charged In Global Crime Ring
Hoffman, S. (2008, May 19). 38 scammers charged in global crime ring. Retrived from hhttp://www.crn.com/news/security/207801067/38-scammers-charged-in-global-crime-ring.htm;jsessionid=N1pefjPzldfMTYiirR8Log**.ecappj02
3 comments:
I agree with you. Today so many people are willing to place some of their most personal information on display on the internet. Social networking sites make it easier for people to get scammed. With the ability to purchase things online and to check on personal accounts its daunting how far some will go just to retrieve others personal information.
It's terrifying to think of someone taking everything one owns and with the click of a button. It's almost like the person on the internet is physically putting all their money and important personal identification information into the hands of internet criminals. It's the equivelancy of women putting their purses into the hands of a stranger. This means that we are making it that much easier for our own money and identity to be stolen
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