Cyber Crime & Identity Theft
While identity theft is one of the most frequent Internet crimes, it's just part of the world of cyber crime. These activities usually involve scams designed to steal your money, but in some cases, they can also lead to actual physical harm. Awareness of these online crimes is the best line of defense.
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Auction Fraud
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Online auctions are prevalent. While many of these online auction sites do their best to protect consumers from being scammed, the protection level lacks in many cases. The FBI suggests several ways to protect yourself from being scammed by a seller at an online auction. Some of these actions include making yourself aware of the auction site's policy if you are scammed, avoiding out-of-country sellers when possible, using your credit card to allow you to dispute charges if you are ripped off, and never giving out your Social Security or driver's license number to a seller.
Credit Card Fraud
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The FBI reports credit card fraud as one of the most frequent cyber crime complaints. The agency suggests ways consumers can avoid being victimized. Do business with reputable companies only; never give your card number out online unless the connection is secure; and deal only with companies that have a physical address you can verify, as opposed to a P.O. box number.
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Investment and Business Fraud
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Fake business investments are designed to entice you into investing large sums of money with the promise of financial rewards. There are several ways to avoid these Internet scams. The FBI suggests not judging the validity of a company by its website. Anyone can set up a website that looks legitimate. Avoid investing in business opportunities outside of your country, research the investment or business opportunity, and avoid unsolicited investment offers sent to you through your email. Do an Internet search on any investment offer you're considering. If it's a scam, chances are good your search will bring up a number of complaints.
Social Media and Internet Communication
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Social media websites allow Internet users to connect with anyone the world over, building friend lists. While the FBI states that crimes stemming from these types of sites are still relatively small in number, when they occur, it's usually with severe consequences. Be aware of the people you communicate with on social media websites, avoid giving out personal information (address, phone number, etc.), and never agree to meet someone you only know online in person. This applies to chat programs as well.
Peer to Peer Software
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Peer-to-peer software allows users to connect directly with other users and their computers to share files. Some of the crimes associated with peer-to-peer, or file sharing software, are copyright infringement, illegal pornography and computer hacking. Sending or receiving child pornography or copyrighted material, even unwittingly, can result in criminal charges. While peer-to-peer software and file sharing aren't illegal, they can open a world of dangerous activity that parents especially should be aware of.
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