Internet fraud continues to victimize many users worldwide.
Among the most frequently targeted areas for various online scams, Web crimes
and malicious technologies are large English-speaking countries like the USA,
Canada, Australia and the UK.
However, many organized crime syndicates and solo fraudsters
don't just target these countries for Internet fraud. They perform their
illegal operations and fraudulent schemes wherever they think that they can
victimize as many users as possible with as little cost on their part. That's
why you need to be more vigilant during your day-to-day activities on the Web,
wherever you are in the world.
To help you out - Found below are some of the most common
types of Internet fraud in the USA this year. Almost all of these online scams
are also targeted at different countries. By learning about these Web crimes
and Internet scams - You'll be able to devise more suitable ways to quickly
recognize and safely steer clear from the scammers and organized crime groups
that commit these crimes.
Most Prevalent Types of Internet Fraud in the USA This 2017
1. Phishing Fraud - This remains as the top online scam
in the USA at the moment. Recently, large numbers of American users were
victimized by fake emails with bogus urgency claims about their Netflix
accounts. This Internet fraud was designed to fool users into thinking that
they need to log into their Netflix accounts and update their personal details
and financial information. Little did they know that these phishing messages had
links pointing to fraudulent website clones of the Netflix platform, which then
logged all their inputs. According to RSA FraudAction, 120 new phishing attacks
were launched globally every hour on average last year, and 60% of the target
recipients were American users.
2. Investment Fraud - A lot of fake offers are being
advertised in social media platforms like InstaGram and Facebook this year.
False claims of quick cash like a ten-fold return in your investment within a
matter of weeks continue to lure unsuspecting users into this Internet fraud.
Most of these online scams are designed to force victims to hand over cash or
irreversible payment methods like prepaid debit cards, gift cards and
moneypacks. Social manipulation tactics are the main tactics of the scammers
that commit this Internet fraud, so watch out - If it's too good to be true,
then it probably is.
3. Online Dating Fraud - A lot of victims have fallen
for this extortion scheme. This Internet fraud is where crooks pose as
legitimate users of popular online dating sites and apps. They then convince
their target victims to engage in intimate conversations with them in the
private messaging tools of popular social networks like Facebook and through
instant messaging applications like Skype, WhatsApp and Viber. They record
their voice chats and take snapshots of their chat logs, which they then use to
blackmail their intended victims. They ask for money in return for their
silence, or otherwise - They threaten to post these recordings and snapshots
all over the Internet. Many criminals even threaten to directly send these to
the spouses and children of their victims (if any).
Stay away from these types of Internet fraud. To learn more
about the various schemes and tactics that are currently being used by crooks
and organized crime groups to commit these online scams - It might be in your
best interest to sign up at BigScammers.Com. You'll receive instant email
notifications and real time fraud alerts straight in your email inbox whenever
a victim posts a scam complaint or files a Web crime report in this online
community.
