The Economy Fuels Cyber Crime

According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber crime was up in 2008, and if the first few months of 2009 is anything to go by, this trend is not only continuing, it is accelerating.

As the country slides into recession, early indicators for 2009-February to March 2009-shows an additional 50% increase in reported Internet fraud complaints.

"These numbers are shocking, but given that the vast majority of incidents go unreported, the threat of identification theft is actually much more serious than even these figures would lead us to believe," says Justin Yurek, President of ID Watchdog, Inc. Common wisdom says that only one cyber crime in seven-or about fifteen percent-is actually reported.

Internet fraud includes everything from bogus sales on auction sites such as eBay and classified sites like craigslist.com, to smaller scale version of the Ponzi scheme perpetrated by disgraced New York financier Bernard Madoff.

As an example, a scam recently surfaced via e-mails that masquerade as originating from the FBI and other federal agencies seeking the recipient's bank account information in order to "help with illegal wire transfer investigations." Sweet.

The Recession Impact

Many observers put the continued surge in cyber crime down to the recession, and for several reasons.

As reported by the TechArena Forum , McAfee for one, in their annual McAfee Virtual Criminology Report-which examines emerging global cyber security trends, with input from leading academics, criminal lawyers, law enforcement authorities and security experts across the world-identified the following challenges:

The Cyber Credit Crunch - The cyber criminal is now trying to cash in on consumer anxiety to profit from old-fashioned "get rich quick" scams.

Meaning, that there are now people who voluntarily sign up to add malicious code to their websites, lured by the promise of easy money. At the same time, desperate job seekers are being recruited as "money mules" to launder cybercriminal gains under the guise of "international sales representatives" or "shipping managers."

In addition, with the economic downturn driving more people to the web to seek the best deals, opportunities for cybercriminals to attack are on the rise as people are more easily drawn in.

Governments are distracted - As governments grow more and more preoccupied with the economic downturn, their fight against cyber crime slides down their agenda, inviting more and more audacious individuals onto the cyber crime field.

The Cybercop Shortage - It is a known fact that police forces on the cyber crime front line often lack the specialist skills required to effectively fight these criminals.

Furthermore, the lack of dedicated and ongoing training, sufficient remuneration, or even a clear career path, is causing cyber crime specialists to be lured into the more lucrative private sector or even into underground economies.

Criminality Concealed - Eastern Europe, Russia and China have become key safe havens for cybercriminals while Brazil has become one of the fastest growing scapegoat countries for cybercrime. Traffic is often re-routed (and often via Brazil) as a decoy causing considerable misdirection in the origin of attacks.

Information Silo - While law enforcement is bound to physical national boundaries, cybercriminals are free to cooperate across borders.

Law enforcement communication between countries remains inconsistent and limited. Local issues and priorities take precedence over global efforts and international laws are being implemented with regional variations that impede the ability to negotiate jurisdiction and extradition between countries.

This is an environment that plays right into the hands of the cyber criminal, much to the frustration of cyber police.

Microsoft's Take

As reported by RedOrbit Microsoft shares McAfee's view that the global recession could prove to be a starting point for an influx of more cyber criminals seeking to use their computer skills to earn extra money.

"Today these (cyber) attacks are no longer about vandalism, they are about cash," says Roger Halbheer, Microsoft's chief security advisor for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"Cyber crime has gone from cool to cash. And this will definitely grow in the future," he told AFP (Agence France-Presse) during a recent international conference on terrorism and cyber security in Spain. "At the moment we are still at the cool side. But I'm expecting it to move to the cash side."

He then went on to add that it is, "one of the things that scare me about the economic downturn because I expect cyber crime to grow."

Also, the current economic crisis is causing a large number of layoffs, many of them from tech firms, meaning that more and more computer experts will have a lot of time on their hands, but no money. Tempting.

Fixing any and all security issues in software, does not solve the problem for, "Unfortunately the bad guys don't give up and go away. Instead they increasingly focus on crimes of deception that prey on human vulnerabilities rather than software vulnerabilities."

A Law Enforcement Perspective

Lt. Rocky Costa, who until recently headed up the Southern California High Technology Task Force agrees. "In fact, law enforcement has always seen a rise in all sorts of theft crimes when the economy goes south. The crooks look to fraud as the best way to separate folks from their money. People are most vulnerable when money is tight and they are looking to save their homes, savings, retirements, and often, their families.

"They become easy prey to the con-artist who has no sense of right and wrong, but knows how to capitalize on human weaknesses. You see the con artist makes a living studying people and their behaviors. They know their success rate will increase as the economy tumbles and/or the recession climbs. Since a vast number of folks use technology daily, it is only natural to expect technology to be another weakness and another method for exploitation.

"Historically, the number of street robberies goes up, along with shoplifting, and burglaries as the money becomes scarcer. Although we have not yet seen these increases at the lab, we fully expect them. However, with the current economy, even government must begin to cut back. When they do, technology based crimes slide down the priority list in favor of these more visible types of theft.

"People need to stay vigilant in the face is despair, holding onto their values and good judgment will be the only way they will be able to fully protect what they have left, until we all see around the corner."

A Call to Action

According to the RSA Press Release of Tuesday, April 21, 2009:

During the opening keynote at RSA Conference 2009 Art Coviello, President of RSA, The Security Division of EMC, cautioned that the global cyber-threat continues to escalate and online fraudsters are more organized, collaborative and effective than ever. He addressed major forces such as the economy and emerging technologies that are driving the information security industry to evolve and adapt-and how these forces provide an opportunity for "inventive collaboration" to effectively restructure the information infrastructure.

"To combat the cybercriminals requires far more purposeful collaboration on the part of the industry and a strong security ecosystem built around a common development process focused on risk," said Coviello. "Today's security technologies are applied as independent applications cluttering the information landscape and leaving perilous gaps of risk."

Coviello cited three major forces driving the information security industry to evolve and adapt, including:

o the challenge posed by the criminal threat;

o the demand upon enterprises and governments to achieve unprecedented levels of productivity to restore value to the faltering economy; and

o the opportunity to rethink the approach to security based upon emerging technologies and trends such as virtualization, cloud computing and social networking.

According to Coviello, "We must embrace a common development process that allows us to create a more secure infrastructure today. Then with an eye on the future we can ensure that the new technical infrastructure is designed around that process, rather than forcing a process around a collection of technologies.

"We must develop a stronger and healthier ecosystem than the fraudsters and ensure the fluid and frictionless exchange of information on which our global economy depends. It's not about changing the game; it's about winning the game," said Coviello.

Educating the Individual

However, it does not matter of safe our hardware and software becomes, if the individual citizen, desperate for money-and reaching for digital straws, as it were-believes that perhaps this Nigerian Prince really does exist and really does want to spit his $2 Million 50/50 if only he were to help him.

And by the same token, scouring the Internet for the best deal, and finding some that are (in fact) too good to be true, he may pounce on them, not only losing his money in the process, but also his credit card number and other private information.

The same holds true for many "work-at-home" opportunities that only require a small $300 payment for the material you will need to make "thousands a week from your kitchen." You've seen them. Well, as often as not, you will not even receive the material, and by the time you've wised up, your card has been charged, your money gone.

The time to wise up is now.

Internet Commerce Made Safe

As we all know, at least during some of our more rational moments-the "too good to be true" deal is often precisely that. But that is not to say that there are no good deals out there. In fact, the Internet is probably the marketplace that to a large extent will pull the economy out of its slump, precisely because it is replete with good deals and true opportunities.

But how to tell the good from the bad?

According to the IC3, the best way to guard against Internet facilitated scams is to stay informed. Keeping informed of the latest scams on the Internet may enable Internet users to recognize and report these scams instead of losing money or their identity information in one of them. To learn about the latest scams, they recommend periodically checking the IC3, FBI, and the FTC websites for the latest updates.

Additionally, the IC3 and its partners have launched a public website, "www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com," which briefs the consumer about various consumer alerts, tips, and fraud trends. Pay it a visit. Make it a habit.

Also, when it comes to online auctions, and the potential of non-delivery of goods that you've paid for, the IC3 makes these specific recommendations:

o Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source. As with auction fraud, check the reputation of the seller whenever possible, including the Better Business Bureau.

o Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number. Also, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.

o Send them an e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address. Be cautious of sellers who use free e-mail services where a credit card was not required to open the account.

o Investigate other websites regarding this person/company. Do not judge a person/company by their fancy website; thoroughly check the person/company out.

o Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).

o Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country. Remember the laws of different countries might pose issues if a problem arises with your transaction.

o Inquire about returns and warranties on all items.

o The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong. Also, consider utilizing an escrow or alternate payment service after conducting thorough research on the escrow service.

o Make sure the website is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.

Bona Fide vs. Fraudulent Online Escrow Companies

If you have found a good online deal and are now ready to purchase, it would serve you very well to take IC3's recommendation and engage an online escrow service.

The problem is that while there are several bona fide online escrow sites, they are nowhere near as many as there are fraudulent ones.

So, how can you be sure that the escrow company you're considering using is in fact what it says it is?

You must research it. First, do a WHOIS search on the domain. This will show you how long the site has been up, where it is being hosted, how many times the site has been taken down. These are clues. If it smells fishy at all to you, go elsewhere.

Then Google the name of the escrow company to see what gives. This will lead you to forums and other articles. Study them well.

Then, when you have found a site that appears legitimate, travel the extra mile and take one of several additional steps:

o Firstly, while fraudulent sites can buy the necessary certificate to make it a secure site, they seldom do;

o Secondly, you can check at escrow-fraud.com to see if the site you have decided on is listed as a fraudulent site by them; they also maintain a list of bona fide sites;

o Thirdly, you can call the site's customer service department to make sure they are based in the United States. If you have any doubts about that, ask them to call you back, and check the caller ID-if it is an international call, beware. Also, if the site does not have a customer service department, again, beware;

o Once you know that you're talking to a U.S. based service department, ask any questions you can think of to ensure they are legitimate, such as which bank are they using for their escrow accounts, and who is their main contact at that bank (whom you can then call to verify that this online escrow company does in deed have an escrow account there);

o If the answer is a well-known American bank, and if the customer service rep can supply contact information at the bank, you are 99% there. Then, if you want to reach 100%, make that final call to the bank to rule out any vestige of doubt.

Now you have found an online escrow company you can trust; register with them and enjoy your purchase.

Here's to good and safe Internet deals.

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho-based Ulf Wolf writes about cybercrime for Escrow.com.

Escrow.com, the major oneline escrow company is licensed to to provide services across the United States. Bay Weighs In

To quote the biggest online auction site of them all, eBay: "Pay safely - beware of fake escrow services when you consider using them to pay for your eBay item.

"For eBay transactions, you should use eBay's only approved Escrow Company: http://www.escrow.com."

Escrow.com, the major oneline escrow company is licensed to to provide services across the United States.

When it comes to automobile transactions, Escrow.com does go the extra mile (no pun indented), with services that include:

Title Transfer
Inspection Service
Vehicle Title Insurance
Vehicle and Motorcycle Transport
Vehicle History

Sleep well at night, use the online escrow service with proven record.

Sex Crimes and Criminal Consequences

There is a vast array of criminal offenses that are sex-related. A sex offense conviction can have lasting ramifications including social isolation and sex offender registration for the accused.

In our society, non-consensual sexual contact is a criminal offense. Even some forms of consensual sexual acts are criminalized as well. In some instances merely showing too much skin or too much affection in public can be prosecuted as indecent exposure. Engaging in prostitution as the "prostitute" or the "John" is illegal when money exchanges hands, even though it is entirely consensual. People can be guilty of committing a sex crime without even knowing it; for example, when a young man engages in a sexual act with a young teenage girl who is below the age of consent (without being aware of her age), or when one performs certain "acts" in view of the public eye.

Our society is relatively conservative in its sexual practices, and unlike many other countries, you will get into trouble if you show too much flesh, engage in sexual acts in public or have sex with someone that is too young. It is not difficult to break a state law and be guilty of committing a sex crime. Unfortunately, however minor or innocent the offense might have been at the time, you can suffer significant criminal consequences as a result.

These types of crimes vary in degrees and severity. The more force that is involved in the crime and the younger the victim, the greater the criminal penalties. Some sex crimes are prosecuted as misdemeanor offenses and involve no more than one year in jail; however, more serious sex crimes can be prosecuted as felonies and involve incarceration in a state prison for a minimum of one year and can extend for a number of years.

Common examples of sex-related offenses include: sexual assault, sexual battery, rape, forcible rape, molestation, sodomy, child rape, and child molestation, possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. More serious sex crimes such as sexual battery or child rape involve mandatory sex offender registration. Failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements can send a convicted sex offender right back to state prison.

Certain sex crimes which involve the use of the internet are considered federal crimes because they cross state lines. These types of sex crimes typically involve crimes against children. Crimes such as possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography are considered federal offenses.

Being accused of a sex offense is very uncomfortable and embarrassing because it questions your ethics and morals. Sadly, as serious as sex crimes are, many innocent individuals are either falsely accused or entangled in a web of lies by the supposed accuser. Innocent fathers can be falsely accused of molesting their daughters by their ex-wife in a bitter child custody battle, or adult men can be fooled into believing an underage girl was over eighteen. It isn't unusual for innocent men to be the target of an unscrupulous and manipulating scheme out of vengeance. If you have been accused of a sex crime, you could be facing serious criminal consequences. Not only that, but a sex crime conviction can have a detrimental impact on your career and future relationships. You have no other choice but to hire a tough criminal defense attorney who can protect your legal rights throughout the criminal process.

Superior Law Center represents clients facing all types of criminal charges throughout San Diego County. With over a decade of legal experience, they can provide you with the dedicated and sound legal representation that you are looking for. They will not take a passive and apathetic approach to your case; instead they will work aggressively on your behalf, fighting for your freedom every step of the way. Their legal team assists people with criminal charges ranging from drug crimes, to juvenile crimes, to sex crimes, white collar crimes and many more. If you would like to speak with a highly experienced attorney about your case, contact a San Diego criminal defense lawyer from their firm at (888) 258-6185 for a confidential consultation.

Crime Rates Among Children - Is Single Parenting the Cause?

Parenting is a hard job that can be difficult with two parents in the home, let alone one. Because of this awesome responsibility, much has been said about the possibility that raising kids minus a mother or father can lead to higher crime rates among children.

While a compelling argument, something as complex as youth crime may not a solitary cause. A case in point would be the fact that most high profile crimes, like school shootings, involve kids from two parent households. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the Columbine killers, lived in fairly upscale neighborhoods and came from two parent homes.

A poll even indicated that 85 % of the public believed that the parents of the Columbine Murders were at fault for their children's criminal behavior. Victim's families even filed civil suits against them for financial damages. So, it would appear that crime rates among children may not be attributed solely to single parent's children, but can stem from any home at any given time.

Single Parent Stigma

While the case can be made that many crimes are committed by children from single homes, studies indicate that there has been a decline in youth crime even though single parenthood still exists. FBI crime statistics even indicate that violent juvenile crime stats are at their lowest point in twenty years. It cannot be ignored that major crime rates among children occur across all demographics.This is especially true when it comes to school shooters, who tend to come from two parent homes.

So, what are the common denominators? One finds that in homes where there is attention, love and care, the child is well adjusted and happy. Of course, a single parent may find it harder to give time and attention, especially when working two jobs to make ends meet. On the other hand, if a double parent home is dysfunctional, abusive or devoid of love, it can produce a hostility that comes out in negatively as well.

Dooming Kids to Failure

The assumption is that most kids from single a parent homes are products of divorce or an "epidemic" of teens who opt to live on welfare and do not have the skills to raise their children properly. A look at welfare statistics however, indicates that only 8% of the welfare dole is given out to teen parents. This means that the epidemic we tend to hear so much about may be a little inflated.

In most cases, teens who have babies receive help from their extended families. This also means that the child may have familial love and support from relatives who assist in child rearing duties. Some children are raised by a single parent because of the death of their mother or father as well. In other words, single parents may end up having to raise a kid alone due to situations beyond their control.

If we live in a society that automatically places single parent kids in the potentially bad apple category, we inadvertently start a self-fulfilling prophecy of crime rates among children in this group. In this case, it won't be from single parenting that these kids act out, but from their reaction to how society chooses to deal with such complex issues. This should be enough to compel us to seek real solutions to an extremely complex problem and not place the blame solely on the shoulders of all single parents.

Pieter West travels the world on a regular basis and have written about numerous subjects. He has an extensive knowledge about, finances, DIY, parenting advice and many more subjects. You can find more of Pieter's articles regarding Single Parenting at http://www.singleparentingguide.com/

Violent and Property Crime Statistics

Just how likely are you to become a victim of crime? It is believed that crime is increasing in many cities across the United States. Most of the country's large cities, from New Orleans to Los Angeles and everywhere in between, have disturbingly high numbers of violent crime (which include murder, rape, and assault) as well as property crimes such a thefts, burglaries, and break-ins. Living in today's world, it's no wonder why so many people have chosen to protect their homes, themselves, and their families with security systems, stun guns, pepper spray, personal alarms, and a whole host of other devices designed to give you peace of mind and help you thwart an attack.

What do the statistics show about the level of crime in the United States? Last year, there was a violent crime every 22.8 seconds, and an aggravated assault every 37.8 seconds. No matter your gender, age, or location, it is critical that you protect yourself before you become part of these statistics.

There were almost five million acts of violence with female victims reported in the United States last year. Three quarters of these women were attacked when alone, and half were attacked by multiple assailants. Thirty percent of female victims of violence were attacked by someone they knew well. There are more than half a million rapes reported in the United States each year. These statistics underscore the need for women, especially, to protect themselves. Carry pepper spray in your handbag everywhere you go. A stun gun shaped like a cell phone or pepper spray disguised to look like a pen can be great choices, especially when you consider that many of these crimes are perpetrated by attackers who know their victim.

According to the FBI, there are more than seventeen million property crimes such as burglary in the United States each year, including a burglary every twelve seconds and a violent robbery every 70 seconds. The average dollar loss per home invasion is about $1,725 to $2,000, and by far houses are the biggest target for break-ins. Clearly, property crimes are a huge problem in the United States. When you consider the danger your home is in, as well as how much property you are risking by leaving it unprotected, it makes sense to protect your home with alarms, security cameras, and other devices.

Much can be learned from the method of entry for most home burglaries. About two thirds of residential burglaries occurred during daylight hours, while many people mistakenly believe that their home is at greater risk at night. A third of all home invasions happen right through the front door, while another quarter enter through a first floor window, and nearly all of the rest enter through the back door or garage. In nearly all cases, any alarms or other security systems on the home were not turned on or armed at the time of the burglary.

Historically speaking, property crime tends to increase when the economy is not doing well. Since we are currently in a recession, it is all the more important to protect yourself, your home, and your family.

Resist Attack has a full range of stun guns both for families and security forces. Also check for current specials on hand held metal detectors

Explaining White Collar Crimes

White collar crime is a general term referring to non-violent crimes that are financially motivated. The term "white collar crime" comes from the idea that they were typically committed by business executives who wear a white shirt and tie, hence the term. However, it is a misnomer because people from all types of backgrounds can commit this type of crime.

It is not required to be a business executive or someone with a college degree to bribe somebody, or to blackmail an individual. The same goes for tax evasion, counterfeiting, forgery and identity theft. Still, those offenses are often in the same category.

The one element that all white collar crimes have in common is that they are usually involved in some type of fraudulent scam or activity. Although anybody can commit this crime, many times they are committed by professionals who have direct access to the resources necessary to further such crimes. They can use their special occupational skills, access and opportunities to defraud governments, businesses and individuals.

Due to the fact that white collar crimes are financially-related they are not necessarily connected to narcotics, crimes against personal property, organized crime, immigration, civil rights or vice crimes.

In the United States, criminal law is primarily enforced at the state level, however, white collar crimes can be prosecuted at either the state or federal level, or both. Many of these crimes cross state lines, therefore many of them are prosecuted in federal court.

White collar crimes are taken very seriously in this country; they are responsible for huge financial losses to federal, state, and local governments, to corporations, small businesses and to individuals. Many of them are investigated by large government agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities Exchange commission. It is not uncommon for a person to pay thousands of dollars in fines, to pay victim restitution, and to replace the money they stole.

This is all in addition to incarceration in a state or federal penitentiary. If you are under investigation for a white collar crime, or if you have already been arrested, you should contact a criminal defense attorney right away. You want to make sure that you are doing everything possible to protect your legal rights - hiring a lawyer will be your first line of defense! Do not wait to get the help you need because time is crucial in these cases.

Acosta, Batovski & Schmiege is a criminal defense firm located in Chicago, Illinois. At their firm, their Chicago criminal defense attorneys have proven over the years that outstanding service and dedication can make all the difference in a criminal case. Regardless of what you were charged with, they have the tools and experience you need to effectively defend your case. If you should go with their firm, they will work aggressively on your behalf from the beginning to the end. To learn more about how they can help you, contact a Chicago criminal defense attorney from their firm by calling (312) 626-2400 today.

Criminal Law Information: Fraud, Hate Crimes & Child Abuse

Criminal law is one of the most common types of law practiced in the United States. People make mistakes, and when these mistakes involve the law, it is absolutely critical that if you find yourself on the wrong side of the law that you have the best lawyer at your side to help you protect your rights and freedom. Some of the most common infractions that people find themselves involved with are child abuse laws, fraud, and hate crimes.

Child abuse laws are in place to help protect innocent people, but more and more often these days these laws are used to take advantage of innocent people. Unscrupulous people use the stigma attached with child abuse accusations to force innocent people into situations that they never wanted to be in the first place. Unfortunately, because people often instantly judge people those accused of child abuse crimes to be guilty, it takes the best lawyers to help those wrongfully accused of these reprehensible crimes to see the light of justice again.

Fraud is also one of the most common crimes that people have to deal with in the 21st century. These business crimes include insurance fraud, government fraud, tax fraud, stock fraud, financial fraud, healthcare fraud, and telemarketing fraud, and the technologies available in the computer age can turn simple and innocent mistakes into devastating and life-altering consequences. Without the expert counsel of the dedicated and experienced fraud lawyers at resource4criminallaw.com, you or someone you love could end up in jail without hope of getting the justice they deserve.

Hate crimes are another type of special crime that few people understand unless they are facing charges. What few people understand is that hate crime laws are so hazy and nebulous that virtually any act can be construed as a "hate crime" if the "victims" and lawyer have an agenda to prove or an axed to grind. People accused off these crimes need to be represernted by the best legal minds possible, and the attorneys at resource4criminallaw.com have decades of combined experience in helping people on the wrong side of hate crimes get the justice they deserve.

Resource4criminallaw.com is your one stop shop for all your criminal defense needs. Why should you trust your freedom, your fortune or even your life to secondrate public defenders? Explore Resource4thepeople.com today and see what we can do for you.

To learn more about child abuse, fraud or hate crimes, please visit our website. This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.

The Danger of Cyber Crimes

Computers and internet are the most common tools we use in our daily life. All the important and useful information are found in the computer and internet which can help everyone in any case. However, certain knowledge in this electronic field can also cause some people from becoming the victims of cyber crimes.

Cyber crime is also called computer crime, high tech crime or electronic crime. This type of crime is generally referred to the criminal activity which is caused by the computer or network.

In a broader term, cyber crimes can be divided into THREE main categories:

o Cyber crimes against persons

These illegal activities include transmission, distribution, posting and dissemination of obscene materials such as child pornography and indecent exposure.

o Cyber crimes against property

These criminal activities are referred to computer vandalism. It includes transmission of harmful programs, such as viruses and booby traps that area able to destruct others' properties. These crimes also cover the unauthorized damaging and deletion of computer data.

o Cyber crimes against government

These high tech crimes are the most dangerous threats to all the governments around the world. They are commonly referred to cyber terrorism. These criminal activities are carried out by the brilliant criminals who crack into the government or military maintained websites to obtain private and confidential data.

In order to detect, prevent and overcome all these computer crimes, computer forensics facilities are established. Its unique services and equipments have become more and more important to ensure that the tracking and handling of electronic evidence processes are done in a precise manner.

For more information about computer forensics careers and online computer forensics degree, visit ComputerForensicsBasics.com.