The Internet is a useful way to reach a mass audience without spending a lot of time or money. Crime in which the perpetrator develops a scheme using one or more elements of the Internet to deprive a person of property or any interest, estate, or right by a false representation of a matter of fact, whether by providing misleading information or by concealment of information.
As increasing numbers of businesses and consumers rely on the Internet and other forms of electronic communication to conduct transactions; illegal activity using the very same media is similarly on the rise. Fraudulent schemes conducted via the Internet are generally difficult to trace and prosecute, and they cost individuals and businesses millions of dollars each year. From computer viruses to Web site hacking and financial Fraud, Internet crime became a larger concern than ever in the 1990s and early 2000s. In one sense, this situation was less a measure of growing pains than of the increasing importance of the Internet in daily life. More users surfing the Web, greater business reliance upon E-Mail, and the tremendous upsurge in electronic commerce have raised financial stakes.
The use of Internet services or software with Internet access to defraud victims or to otherwise take advantage of them is currently on the rise. For example by stealing personal information, that can lead to identity theft. A very common form of Internet fraud is the distribution of rogue security software. Internet services can be used to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected with the scheme. Internet fraud can occur in chat rooms, email, message boards, or on websites.
The Internet offers a global marketplace for consumers and businesses. But crooks also recognize the potentials of cyberspace. The same scams that have been conducted by mail and phone can now be found on the World Wide Web and in email, and new cyber scams are emerging. It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between reputable online sellers and criminals who use the Internet to rob people. You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the danger signs of fraud. If you are a victim or attempted victim of Internet fraud, it’s important to report the scam quickly so that law enforcement agencies can shut the fraudulent operations down.
The Philippines continues to face the challenge of effectively addressing the problem of illegal cyber activity and cybercrime victimization, a challenge it shares among developing countries in South East Asia and in other parts of the world. Internet Fraud in the Philippines is currently on the rise, Filipinos and Foreigners alike are not safe on both sides of the fence whether as a suspect or victim. Businesses from micro to multi-nationals are also affected and to put it bluntly everyone will be affected.
TYPES OF INTERNET FRAUD SCAMS
A. BOILER ROOM
In business, the term boiler room refers to an outbound call center selling questionable investments by telephone. It typically refers to a room where salesmen work using unfair, dishonest sales tactics, sometimes selling foreign currency stock, private placements or committing outright stock fraud. The term carries a negative connotation, and is often used to imply high-pressure sales tactics and, sometimes, poor working conditions.
A boiler room usually has an undisclosed relationship with the company being promoted or undisclosed profit from the sale of the house stock they are promoting. The managers of the boiler room usually have close ties to the same owners of the company whose stock is being promoted. After the sales force of the boiler room sells their clients on the idea of the Initial Public Offering (IPO), they are not allowed to sell the shares that the customer invested. This is because there is no real “market” for the shares, so any shares sold before buyers are attracted would create a large loss in the price of the stock, due to it being thinly traded with no public support. Once the insider investors are in place, a boiler room promotes via telephone calls to brokerage clients or spam email these thinly traded stocks where there is no actual market.
The brokers of the boiler room actually “create” a market by attracting buyers, whose demand for the stock drives up the price; this gives the owners of the company enough volume to sell their shares at a profit, a form of pump and dump operation where the original investors profit at the expense of the investors taken in by the boiler room operation.
Protect yourself from Boiler Room
If a stockbroker calls you out of the blue with an offer that seems to good to be true, be warned, it probably is.
Fraudsters are usually well spoken and knowledgeable. They are also persistent. They might call their victim several times with offers of research, discounts on stocks in small overseas companies, or shares in a firm that is about to float.
Another thing to watch out for is callers are increasingly threatening investors with police action if they refuse to go ahead with an initially agreed transaction.
B. ROMANCE SCAM
Romance scams try to lower your defenses by appealing to your romantic or compassionate side. They play on emotional triggers to get you to provide money, gifts or personal details. Scammers target victims by creating fake profiles on legitimate internet dating services. Once you are in contact with a scammer, they will express strong emotions for you in a relatively short period of time and will suggest you move the relationship away from the website, to phone, email and/or instant messaging.
Scammers often claim to be working overseas. They will go to great lengths to gain your interest and trust, such as sharing personal information and even sending you gifts. Scammers may take months, to build what seems like the romance of a lifetime and may even pretend to book flights to visit you, but never actually come. Once they have gained your trust they will ask you either subtly or directly for money, gifts or banking/credit card details. They will pretend to need these for a variety of reasons.
For example, they may claim to be in the depths of despair due to financial hardship or an ill family member. In other cases, the scammer might start off by sending you flowers or other small gifts then will tell you about a large amount of money they need to transfer out of their country or that they want to share with you. They will then ask for your banking details or money to cover administrative fees or taxes to free up the money.
Alternatively scammers may claim to have fallen ill or been involved in a serious accident. They will then ask you for money to pay medical bills or travel expenses to visit you. In some instances you may even be contacted by someone claiming to be their doctor. Regardless of how you are scammed, you could end up losing a lot of money.
Protect yourself from Romance Scam
ALWAYS consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam. Try to remove the emotion from your decision making no matter how caring or persistent they seem.
Talk to an independent friend, relative or fair trading agency before you send any money. THINK TWICE before sending money to someone you have only recently met online or haven’t met in person.
NEVER give credit card or online account details to anyone by email.
Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social network sites. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity or to target you with a scam.
If you agree to meet in person, tell family and friends where you are going especially overseas travel.
Where possible, avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for up-front payment via money order, wire transfer or international funds transfer. It is rare to recover money sent this way.
If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
C. LOTTERY SCAM
An email, letter or text message from a lottery company arrives from out of nowhere. It will advise you that you have won a lot of money or fantastic prizes—in a lottery or competition you did not enter. Lottery scams will often use the names of legitimate lotteries, so that even if you do some superficial research, the scam will seem real.
The email, letter or text message you receive about your winnings will ask you to respond quickly or risk missing out. The scammers do this to try and stop you thinking about the surprise too much in case you start to suspect it could be a scam. You could also be urged to keep your winnings private or confidential, to ‘maintain security’ or stop other people from getting your ‘prize’ by mistake. Scammers do this to prevent you from seeking further information or advice from independent sources.
You will usually be asked to pay some fees to release your winnings. Scammers will often say these fees are for insurance costs, government taxes, bank fees or courier charges. The scammers make money by continually collecting these ‘fees’ from you and stalling the payment of your ‘winnings’. Some scammers may also be asked to provide personal details to ‘prove’ that you are the correct winner and to give your bank account details so the prize can be sent to you. Scammers will use these details to try to misuse your identity and steal any money you have in your bank account.
Protect yourself from Lottery Scam
Do not send any money or pay any fee to claim a prize or lottery winnings.
Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails (spam)—delete them.
Never reply to a spam email (even to unsubscribe).
Never call a telephone number that you see in a spam email.
Never respond to a text message which says you have won a competition that you did not enter.
Do not click on any links in a spam email, or open any files attached to them.
If it looks too good to be true—it probably is.
If you receive an email, letter or text message telling you that you’ve won a lottery or a sweepstakes prize—do not respond. Do not write back and do not send any money or personal details to the scammers.
Providing personal details such as bank account details will make you vulnerable to having your identity stolen. You may have your bank account cleaned out or a loan taken out in your name. Responding to emails through internet links might also threaten your computer security through the use of spyware.
10. If the lottery is anything other than a registered lottery—say no Be very wary of sweepstakes competitions that ask you to send money or personal details.
D. BANKING AND ONLINE ACCOUNT SCAM
d.1 CARD SKIMMING
Card skimming is the illegal copying of information from the magnetic strip of a credit or ATM card. The scammers try to steal your details so they can access your accounts. Once scammers have skimmed your card, they can create a fake or cloned card with your details on it. The scammer is then able to run up charges on your account. Card skimming is also a way for scammers to steal your identity or personal details and use it to commit identity fraud. By stealing your personal details and account numbers the scammer may be able to borrow money or take out loans in your name.
Protect yourself from Card Skimming
Keep your credit card and ATM cards safe. Do not share your personal identity number (PIN) with anyone. Do not keep any written copy of your PIN with the card.
Check your bank account and credit card statements when you get them. If you see a transaction you cannot explain, report it to your credit union or bank.
Choose passwords that would be difficult for anyone else to guess.
If you are using an ATM, take the time to check that there is nothing suspicious about the machine.
.Ask yourself if you trust the person or trader who you are handing your card over to. If a shop assistant looks like they are going to take your card out of your sight, ask if it is really necessary.
If an ATM looks suspicious, do not use it and alert the ATM owner.
If you are in a shop and the assistant wants to swipe your card out of your sight, or in a second machine, you should ask for your card back straight away and either pay with a check or cash, or not make the purchase.
d.2 PHISHING
The word phishing comes from the analogy that Internet scammers are using email lures to fish for passwords and financial data from the sea of Internet users. Phishing, also called brand spoofing is the creation of email messages and Web pages that are replicas of existing, legitimate sites and businesses. These Web sites and emails are used to trick users into submitting personal, financial, or password data. These emails often ask for information such as credit card numbers, bank account information, social insurance numbers, and passwords that will be used to commit fraud.
The goal of criminals using brand spoofing is to lead consumers to believe that a request for information is coming from a legitimate company. In reality it is a malicious attempt to collect customer information for the purpose of committing fraud.
Protect yourself from Phishing
Protect your computer with anti-virus software, spyware filters, email filters and firewall programs.
You can verify a website’s authenticity by looking for “https:” at the beginning of the internet address.
Contact the financial institution immediately and report your suspicions.
Do not reply to any email that requests your personal information.
Look for misspelled words.
d.3 EMAIL SPOOFING
Email spoofing is the creation of email messages with a forged sender address something which is simple to do because the core protocols do no authentication. Spam and phishing emails typically use such spoofing to mislead the recipient about the origin of the message. The word “spoof” means “falsified”. A spoofed email is when the sender purposely alters parts of the email to masquerade as though it was authored by someone else.
Commonly, the sender’s name/address and the body of the message are formatted to appear from a legitimate source, as though the email came from a bank or a newspaper or legitimate company on the Web. Sometimes, the spoofer will make the email appear to come from a private citizen somewhere. .Dishonest users will alter different sections of an email so as to disguise the sender as being someone else.
Protect yourself from Email Spoofing
Consider what personal information you post on social/business networking services. Scammers use publicly-available information to identify potential victims.
Check if a website has a digital certificate.
Install and regularly update antivirus, antispyware and firewall software.
Never click on links provided in emails or open attachments from strangers. An email with an attachment that arrives unexpectedly could contain malware.
Never provide your personal, business, credit card or account details online unless you have verified the website is authentic.
Ensure your businesses postal mail is delivered to a secure/locked mailbox.
Shred all business documents before you dispose of them.
E. NIGERIAN SCAMS
Background
The Nigerian 419 scam is a form of advance fee fraud similar to the Spanish Prisoner scam dating back to the late 19th century. In that con, businessmen were contacted by an individual allegedly trying to smuggle someone connected to a wealthy family out of a prison in Spain. In exchange for assistance, the scammer promised to share money with the victim in exchange for a small amount of money to bribe prison guards. One variant of the scam may date back to the 18th or 19th centuries, as a very similar letter, entitled, “The Letter From Jerusalem” is seen in the memoirs of Eugène François Vidocq, a former French criminal and private investigator. Another variant of the scam, dating back to circa 1830, appears very similar to what is passed via email today: “‘Sir, you will doubtlessly be astonished to be receiving a letter from a person unknown to you, who is about to ask a favor from you …’ and goes on to talk of a casket containing 16,000 francs in gold and the diamonds of a late marchioness.”
The modern 419 scam became popular during the 1980s during the hyper-corrupt “Second Republic” governed by President Shehu Shagari. There are many variants of the letters sent. One of these, sent via postal mail, was addressed to a woman’s husband and inquired about his health and a long, unexpected silence. It then asked what to do with profits from a $24.6 million investment, and ended with a telephone number. Other official-looking letters were sent from a writer who said that he was a director of the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. He said that he wanted to transfer $20 million to the recipient’s bank account – money that was budgeted but never spent. In exchange for transferring the funds out of Nigeria, the recipient would get to keep 30% of the total. To get the process started, the scammer asked for a few sheets of the company’s letterhead, bank account numbers, and other personal information. Yet other variants have involved mention of a Nigerian Prince or other member of a royal family seeking to transfer large sums of money out of the country.
The spread of e-mail and email harvesting software significantly lowered the cost of sending scam letters by using the Internet. While Nigeria is most often the nation referred to in these scams, they may be originated in other nations as well. For example, in 2006, 61% of Internet criminals were traced to locations in the United States, while 16% were traced to the United Kingdom and 6% to locations in Nigeria. Other nations known to have a high incidence of advance fee fraud include Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain.
One reason why Nigeria may have been singled out is because of the comical, almost ludicrous nature of the promise of West African riches from a Nigerian Prince. According to Cormac Herley, a researcher for Microsoft, “By sending an email that repels all but the most gullible, the scammer gets the most promising marks to self-select.” Nevertheless, Nigeria has earned a reputation as being at the center of email scammers, and the number, “419”, refers to the article of the Nigerian Criminal Code (part of Chapter 38: “Obtaining property by false pretences; Cheating”) dealing with fraud. In Nigeria, young men would use computers in internet cafes to send mass emails promising potential victims for riches or romance, and to trawl for replies. They refer to their targets as maghas – scammer slang that developed from a Yoruba word meaning “fool”. Many also have accomplices in the United States and abroad that move in to finish the deal once the initial contact has been made.
e.1 NIGERIAN 419 SCAMS
Nigerian scams, also called 419 scams, are a type of fraud and one of the most common types of confidence trick. The number “419” refers to the article of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud.
The scheme begins once a consumer receives a letter concerning the “request for urgent business transaction” usually the transfer of millions of dollars, are being sent out to consumers and business’ via mail, email and fax transmission. These letters are commonly referred to as Nigerian Letter Scams or West African Fraud Letters. For instance, the writers of these letters will commonly claim to be a Doctor and/or a corporate entity with a major corporation of Nigeria. There will also be some mention of government involvement. Typically, after receiving a letter a consumer would respond either by phone, fax, or email. The response would be a request for further information on the requirements and procedure for the transaction. Once contact is established, the writer of the letter will normally ask for an upfront processing fee and in some cases arrange for a meeting to discuss the transfer of funds. Most letters come with a breakdown of the percentage of money each party involved will receive once the transaction is final. For instance, many letters received offer the following breakdown, 30% for the account holder, 60% for me and my partners and 10% to be used in offsetting taxes and all local & foreign expenses.
While the scam is not limited to Nigeria, the nation has become associated with this fraud and it has earned a reputation for being a center of email scam crimes. Other nations known to have a high incidence of advance fee are Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, South Africa, Russia, India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, and Spain. In the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs warns OFWs to watch for the scam from Nigerian syndicates sending emails to unsuspecting victims about employment, monetary gains or other too good to be true offers.
Protect yourself from Nigerian 419 Scam
Remember there are no get-rich-quick schemes: the only people who make money are the scammers.
Do not let anyone pressure you into making decisions about money or investments: always get independent financial advice.
Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails (spam): delete them.
NEVER reply to a spam email (even to unsubscribe).
Never send your personal, credit card or online account details through an email.
Money laundering is a criminal offence: do not agree to transfer money for someone else.
e.2 CHECK OVERPAYMENT SCAM
If you are selling something over the internet or through the classifieds, you may be targeted by a check overpayment scam. You might receive an offer from a potential buyer often quite generous and accept it. The scammer then sends you a check, but the check is for more money than the agreed price. The scammer will invent an excuse for the overpayment. For example, the scammer might tell you that the extra money is meant to cover the fees of an agent or extra shipping costs. The scammer might just say that it was a mistake they made when they wrote the check.
The scammer will then ask you to refund the excess amount—usually through an online banking transfer or a wire transfer such as Western Union. The scammer is hoping that you will do this before you discover that their check has bounced. You will have lost the money you paid into their account, and if you have already sent the item you were selling, you will lose this as well. At the very least, the scammer will have wasted your time and prevented you from accepting any legitimate offers.
Protect yourself from Check overpayment Scam
Use your common sense: the offer may be a scam.
Know who you are dealing with; independently confirm your buyer’s name, street address, and telephone number.
Never accept a check for more than your selling price
Make sure that checks have been cleared by your bank before transferring or wiring any refunds or overpayments back to the sender
e.3 INHERITANCE SCAM
An inheritance scam is when a scammer contacts you out of the blue to tell you that you’ve been left, or are entitled to claim, a large inheritance from a distant relative or wealthy benefactor who has died overseas. The scammer will pose as a lawyer, banker or other foreign official and will advise that the deceased left no other beneficiaries. Some scammers will provide a made-up name for your supposed relative. Others will use publicly available family history websites and gather the names of genuine deceased relatives to make the scam seem more convincing.
Some inheritance scams don’t refer to family members but rather to a wealthy person who has supposedly died without a will. The scammer may use news articles about a deceased person, for example following a highly publicized disaster, and claim that without an appointed benefactor you are legally able to inherit the funds. They may alternatively claim that you have been chosen as a lucky beneficiary. The size of the supposed inheritance can be very large, sometimes many millions of dollars and is often quoted in foreign currency. You will be told that your supposed inheritance is difficult to access due to government and bank restrictions or taxes in the country, and that you will need to pay money and provide personal details to claim it.
The stories told by the scammer can be quite elaborate and they will go to great lengths to convince you that a fortune awaits. This includes sending you a large number of seemingly legitimate legal documents to sign, such as power of attorney documents. In some cases the recipient is invited overseas to examine documents and the money. The scammer will often organize an elaborate charade, complete with a safe full of money for anyone who takes up the offer.
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