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Cybercrime: How to Avoid Becoming a VictimISBN-10: 1581129548, ISBN-13: 978-1581129540Computers and the Internet can be used almost anywhere. Desktop computers are found in homes, schools, airports, libraries, businesses, and cybercafés. The advent of wireless Internet connection has allowed the use of computers in places not envisioned a few years ago—on a train, on a bus, in a restaurant, or even on a busy street corner. In addition, you can plug your laptop into an outlet in many hotel rooms for a traditional, hardwired Internet connection. And more and more people, including the elderly, are taking the necessary steps to learn how to use computers and the Internet.In teaching basic computer courses for adults, the most common question I get asked is “Is using the Internet safe?” The answer is, “well yes and no.” Americans lost more than $336 million to online fraud in 2005, and that doesn’t count all the headaches, lost hours spent trying to restore their computers to normal functioning states after they were disrupted by viruses and other intrusive programs, or the money paid to computer experts to fix the problems. In addition, dealing with viruses, spyware, computer theft, and other computer-related crimes cost U.S. businesses a staggering $67.2 billion a year, according to the FBI. And the criminals are still out are there just waiting to plant a virus that crashes your whole system, install spyware that keeps track of everything you do on the Internet, defraud you out of money, or steal your personal information, including passwords, social security number, bank account number, and credit card number.However, there is good news. There are steps you can take to protect yourself and your computer, and they are spelled out in this book. I have made an attempt to lay out each of the chapters in a format consisting of a discussion of the basics of the crime, followed by real-life examples of the particular crime, and then things you can do to avoid becoming a victim of the crime. In addition I have included chapters on the role of organized crime in Internet fraud and Internet hoaxes. Although hoaxes are not crimes as such, some can lead you to damage your own computer if you follow their instructions, and they are a nuisance. In addition, I have included an appendix on where to report various cybercrimes and another appendix on cybercrime terminology.To illustrate specific crimes I have used over 200 case reports. I have no personal knowledge of any of these. They are all taken from various sources, both online and from the print media. |
Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Auction Fraud Chapter 3. Business and Job Opportunity Fraud Chapter 4. Charity Scams Chapter 5. Child Pornography Chapter 6. Copyright Violation Chapter 7. Cramming and Slamming Chapter 8. Credit Card Fraud Chapter 10. Cyberbullying Chapter 11. Cyberextortion Chapter 12. Cyber-harassment and Cyberstalking Chapter 13. Cyberhijacking Chapter 14. Cyber Snake Oil Chapter 15. Cyberterrorism Chapter 16. Dating, Marriage, and Divorce Scams Chapter 17. Education Scams Chapter 18. Gambling Fraud |
Chapter 19. Hacking Chapter 20. Identity Theft Chapter 21. Immigration Fraud Chapter 22. Investment Fraud Chapter 23. Laptop Theft Chapter 24. Loan and Grant Scams Chapter 25. Lottery Scams Chapter 26. Nigerian Fraud Chapter 27. Organized Crime Chapter 28. Overpayment Scam Chapter 29. Predatory Behavior Chapter 30. Pyramid Schemes and Email Chain Letters Chapter 31. Prostitution Chapter 32. Sales Fraud Chapter 33. Spam Chapter 34. Travel Scams Chapter 35. Viruses, Worms, Trojans, and Spyware Chapter 36. Hoaxes Appendix A. Where to Report Cybercrimes Appendix B. Cybercrime Glossary |