Cyber Crime
In today’s day and age, everyone uses a computer. Whether it is just for fun (surfing the internet, downloading music) or for work (using Excel, Word or the internet for sources) there are not too many people that do not understand how useful the computer can be. In fact, many people have figured out how to use the computer to commit crime anonymously, and sometimes without the victim even knowing a crime has been committed.
There are many different types of internet crime. First, it is incredibly easy to hide one’s identity on the internet. Most people use “user names” as opposed to actual names, therefore anyone can choose anything for their name. Some people do this just so they can feel like they can be who ever they want to be without it coming back to their real selves. However, some people do this so they can get information on someone that otherwise would not give out information; or to gain the trust of someone so they can hurt them; plus, many other reasons. Law Enforcement can use this trick too, as can be seen on NBC’s To Catch a Predator. On this program, law enforcement pretends to be underage children in order to catch older men trying to take advantage of them.
In addition to concealing identity, many people also steal others’ identity. Some may do this just to conceal their identity, but mostly it’s so they can steal credit information. Today, one of the biggest crimes, and hardest to prove, is credit card fraud. Once someone has stolen someone else’s identity, then they can obtain credit cards, driver’s license, mortgages, etc in the others name. Then, when they cannot pay for things, they simply disappear and the victim is held responsible for the money owed. The easiest way to stay on top of this is to run a credit check on one’s self every year to make sure all credit cards and loans indeed are due by them.
With most banks handling charges electronically, it is very easy for criminals to launder...
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