Fraud is what happens when a person deceptively transacts with other persons
or organisations and the online form of this event is termed internet fraud. It
is a criminal offence that often involves impersonation, misrepresentation or
the use of false evidence by one party to gain undue monetary value from
another. Usually, victims are convinced to believe a false or incomplete
information that should ultimately lead to their own benefit. After involving
their possessions, a serious transaction process is initiated and their trust
is gained. But eventually, they are cheated, emotionally injured and suddenly abandoned
by the persuader.
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| Some "boys" at work |
Persons who do this illegal act for a living have been
given various names such as con men, fraudsters, swindlers, impostors and the
likes. But the online versions of these lawbreakers are called internet
fraudsters. Technological evolution has globally eased business transacting in
the second millennium and fraudulent acts too have benefited from this
advantage. According to information published on wired.com, the
first indictment under the computer fraud act was
performed on a graduate student of Cornell University in 1989. That happened in
the previous millennium. These days, internet fraudsters operate over the
internet and victimise various people across the global village. With the use
of a portable internet device, various computer applications and a reliable
internet connection, internet fraudsters can simply swindle unsuspecting
persons and organisations from any remote location. Considering the rate at
which electronic literacy campaigns constantly rise, one is prone to wonder why
certain internet users still get heavily duped.
But the reasons are
easy to understand. Victims of internet fraudsters usually get swindled due to
greed, fancifulness and unwariness. Of the aforementioned trio, greed is highly
ranked because when other causes are found wanting, it stands out as a singular
reason. From my experience as an active recipient of diverse fraud-related messages,
I know that intending swindlers often capitalise on people’s greed. Despite
tightening my SPAM mail measures, internet fraudsters who often disguise as
businessmen, lottery companies, government agencies, online potential dates and
bank representatives still contact me. Below is an example of one the recent emails
I received from a prospective con man roaming the internet:
(Message begins)
From: "Ho Chen
Tung"
Subject: revert to me immediately.
Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 01:45:22 +0100
I have to disturb you today
for the reward of an opportunity that should properly be used to advantage. In
reverence to your time, I will go straight to the point.
I need a confirmation of
acceptance to transfer US$21,410,000.00 to you for our joint gratification. I
will send you more details and my suggestions as soon as I get your reply.
Ho Chen Tung.
(Message Ends)
After reading that mail
in my inbox, I grinned and wished the so-called Ho Chen an unproductive week
full of missed opportunities and unyielding contacts. I guess he is another
version of the Chinese scammers I read
about recently or a local impostor seeking whom to defraud.
Unverified information released by Wymoo
International, a leading background check and investigation firm offering
discreet and confidential services around the globe, listed Ghana, Nigeria,
Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia and the Philippines as high risk fraud zones.
The organisation further reports the commonest forms of fraud as advance fee
fraud, dating fraud, business fraud, investment scams and bride scams. One
would ordinarily expect countries with better or more promising economies to be
in the low risk categories. Yet, places such as the United Kingdom and Brazil
surprisingly appear under the moderate risk zones.
The quest for information security and data protection
is not a fight meant for agencies, companies or governments alone as all
persons accessing or storing data on the WWW should be concerned. Really, internet
users should strive to educate themselves frequently, heighten their level of
caution and maintain contacts with online fraud-detecting agencies. In addition
to being cautious, the average WWW surfer must control their greed tendencies and
remember that fraudsters are widespread on the internet. For instance, if you
did not enter to win in a lottery program, you should have no business claiming
such prizes. If “your relative” suddenly mails you about their dangerous
situation and asks for money urgently, be sure to contact them through another
means (talk to them on phone or discuss their whereabouts with their closest
acquaintances) before sending such money.
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| Active customers at a small internet service centre |
When you receive mails from banks, government
representatives or strange persons, always check the full mailing details of
the sender and compare it with what is available on their official website. If
in doubt at any point in time, contact their representatives through the
official website you know. And if you do not have their web contacts, search
for more extensive information about them on the internet. In the end, you
would have reduced the likelihood of falling prey to fraudsters and encourage
more people to go and seek other means of livelihood. Though it is unfortunately
true that fraud practices cannot be absolutely eliminated, the fight for
internet fraud is on and all honest internet users have a stake in this
responsibility.
