With a number
of terms used that seem to mean the same thing, but do in fact have specific
definitions, it’s understandable that there is confusion from people as to
“what makes something a cybercrime” and “what is internet fraud?”.
- WHAT IS INTERNET FRAUD AND CYBERCRIME – KEY TERMS
Cybercrime is
split between “cyber-dependent crimes” that are wholly internet orientated such
as planting malware for financial gain, hacking to steal, damage, distort or
destroy data and/or network or activity and traditional crimes which can be
increased in scale or reach by the use of computers. These are called
“cyber-enabled” crimes
When asking“what is internet fraud”, many of the answers one would give would also fall
into one or both sides of that definition.
The methods used
to perpetrate internet fraud vary, but alarmingly are becoming more focussed on
deception in order to obtain customer login details or pin numbers. This growth
is attributed to several factors, such as advances in bank security technology
making traditional hacking harder and improved anti-virus software – not to
mention increased computer and smartphone literacy and use to make online
purchases.
Newer
converts to the internet revolution are not as savvy as millennials of course,
so the more vulnerable sections of society who didn’t previously do their
shopping or banking online haven’t built up the layer of cynicism that
“protects” the youngsters.
- WHAT IS INTERNET FRAUD MADE UP OF?
To break down
what makes up internet fraud, it makes sense to look at the ways they the may
try to target you to obtain private information and financial data:
Phishing /
Vishing / Smishing - The practice of using emails, phone calls or SMS messages
to trick people into revealing login information to give the fraudsters access
to your account. Though seemingly made-up words, the terms are very descriptive
– just think about what one does when really “fishing”: dropping lures or
casting the net far and wide looking for a bite or a catch which they then
exploit.
Spoof - The
technical term for an email of website appears to be from a specific sender,
such as a bank or government department, but is actually fraudulent.
Malware -
We’ve all heard of viruses and many of us will have the impression that these
nasty bugs are just a nuisance made by people with nothing else to do but annoy
others. Malware falls into that category, but can be a lot nastier too.
For instance,
some of the phishing emails mentioned above will have links which hide a
program that will lurk in the background of your machine to collect and
transmit keystroke data while you go about your daily business on your
computer.
This is the
reason many internet banking login procedures use dropdown menus, since they’re
harder to trace by this method.
- WHAT IS INTERNET FRAUD & HOW DO WE FIGHT IT?
I’ve written more extensively elsewhere about the common-sense
steps one can take to avoid becoming a victim of online fraudsters so but to
start you off, the basic rule of thumb is:
● If you
wouldn’t be asked to do it in real life, don’t agree to do it online.
● Remember that
in real life there are no circumstances where you would give your card details
(or even hand over much personal info) before you agreed to make a purchase, so
stick to the same rule when on the internet.
● Remember that
no new online account you set up should need your payment details before you
decide to buy something (and, call me suspicious, but asking to use my credit
card as “age verification” is a bit of a stretch!).
What is internet fraud? Easy to tackle with information and good
common sense! Good luck!
