Scams

Criminals Use the Internet for Fraud and Theft

The Internet has become an integral part of doing business across the globe. However it has opened up yet another avenue for criminals to commit various crimes. Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to describe the unlawful activity of these criminals. People are wrongfully obtaining and using other people’s information for their own financial gain. This is a short explanation as to why you should take precautions and protect yourself from such criminal activity.

It is standard practice in most countries to use fingerprints to identify one individual from another. Everyone knows that these are unique to each person. Unfortunately things like your bank account or credit card number is not that unique. If these numbers fall into the hands of criminals they will use whatever personal information they have, to either rob you, or commit a crime using your data.

Across the globe people regularly report unauthorized transactions on their accounts. It is not just the stuff of movies and novels; it is a very real occurrence that happens on a daily basis in the lives of ordinary people. In some cases criminals have taken over people’s identities, using the victim’s data to acquire property unlawfully and running up huge debts in their name. In many cases the victim suffers financial loss in two ways because they have no option but to resort to legal recourse in order to prove that they had no knowledge of the criminal activity. Another aspect of this criminal activity is the frustration of restoring a good name and credit status.

If you are not convinced that you can become a victim of such criminal activity you need to become informed about the many ways in which scam artists are able to perpetrate these crimes. By having access to enough personal data, criminals can make false applications in your name for loans, credit cards, obtaining goods on credit, opening bank accounts in your name and many other devious ways, with the express intent to commit fraud and theft.

Internet fraud and theft is taking place all over the world. In fact these criminal activities seem to be most prevalent in highly developed countries because people make use of the Internet so frequently to conduct their everyday activities. You cannot assume that business institutions have sufficient protection against criminal activity. In fact many criminals run a thriving business just by buying and selling information via the Internet.

Remember that you are leaving yourself wide open to theft if you submit your bank account number or credit card details to a company or person that has no history of credibility. These organizations will take your money without you obtaining the product or service you requested. In addition they will probably sell your information to another equally devious business operation.

It is necessary to take as many precautions as possible to protect yourself from criminals that use the Internet for fraud and theft. Only submit personal date to companies that have a reputable history.