NCJ Number
210642
Journal
Fraud Magazine Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2005 Pages: 32-35,60,61
Date Published
July 2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the various types of Internet fraud as well as law enforcement and industry responses.
Abstract
Internet fraud is an increasing global crime threat, with some reports describing Internet fraud losses in the United States alone as totaling $200 million in 2003. With more than 104 million Americans using the Internet by the end of 2000, no one has been able to estimate the full extent of Internet fraud because only about one quarter of Internet fraud is reported to authorities. Despite its low report rate, the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) processed 48,252 fraudulent referrals in 2002. Internet users should be familiar with the different types of Internet fraud in order to avoid victimization; these are described and include financial institution fraud, gaming fraud, communications fraud, utility fraud, insurance fraud, government fraud, and confidence fraud among others. Law enforcement and industry responses are outlined and the consequences of Internet fraud to businesses that rely on the public’s confidence, such as the banking industry, are highlighted. Finally, seven cases of Internet fraud are presented that show the range and imagination of such crimes. Endnotes