Internet’s Infatuation With Scams, Part 1
The internet is a miraculous thing. We can shop, bank, work, research, and entertain ourselves all from the comfort of our homes. But with all its benefits, the internet has also created a breeding ground for scams. In the last 12 months, I was rugged twice, conned by an elaborate work-from-home once, and experienced my first ever Telegram group spoofing a week ago. Between the four incidences, I have lost approximately two thousand dollars. At this point, I am a little pissed off at the swindlers and a bit disgusted with myself. It's beginning to feel like a curse, so I figure I need to do something before it worsens.
By the way, Reader, you shouldn’t feel sorry for me. I’m writing this to learn because it requires that I do research. And hopefully, by putting it all into words, I can get the points through to long-term memory. At the same time, I want reasons why scams are so prevalent on the internet and is it my personality that makes me prone to be a victim?
**Internet’s infatuation with scams**
The Internet is a vast and wonderful place and home to some of the most insidious and damaging frauds. Doesn’t it make you wonder what’s so enticing about scamming on the Internet? My recent experience with cybercriminals has compelled me to dig a little more.
Lucrative Cybercrime
Scams are prevalent on the internet because they are lucrative. Internet crooks rely on social engineering techniques to exploit the trust of their victims. They may use phishing emails, spoofed websites or phone calls, and even malware to steal login credentials and financial information. “Financial” is the keyword here. Imposters go through the trouble of scamming people on the internet not to steal that person’s dog or vehicle but to rob them of money. By 2025, Internet robbery will account for $10 Trillion, as suggested by Cybercrime data (ref. #2).
Anonymity Require
The anonymity of the internet is a necessary factor for users with malicious intent. Cons don’t want to get caught, nor do they wish their mothers to know. Because of this, professional cons will take extra precautions to mask everything about them, especially their location. Anonymity allows the dark side of individuals to come out and operate with impunity. Do you agree, Reader? Truthfully, I must say how tempting it is to run with the underworld of cybercrime. It’s proven so lucrative, and it seems so easy. But knowing myself, I choose not to because walking down that road would end dreadfully for me. Although the more I think about it, I’m not having much luck on the other side either.
Anonymity, could it be eradicated from the internet altogether? Seeing how governments are very interested in conforming people, I’m betting that’s where we’re heading. Hopefully, Blockchains and Web3 will prove valuable in this space.
Internet of the Naive and the Gullible
Cyberspace is access to a vast pool of naive and gullible audiences. I mean no offense to you, Reader. But I understand how foolish most people can be, myself included. Many of us are just as likely to trust something online as though we heard it from a friend. I often wonder why I’m so inclined and eager to believe. Is it hope? Like taking risks in cryptocurrency and hoping I’ll make it too? Did Reader start writing on this platform in the hopes of quitting your day job, sort of like me?
Maybe Hope is too sacred a word to put into this context. Life is so complex, making me inclined to say that many things cause me to make naive decisions. Perhaps my aspirations, goals, expectations, and responsibilities make me susceptible to gullibility. Because rent is due, kids need feeding, and gasoline prices have doubled the cost of living. It's no wonder we, with greater responsibilities, push so hard and so often to achieve. We end up making more mistakes. Don't you think?
With many factors to face, who has the time and money to be giving away time and money to scammers? None of us do. Yet many carelessly flaunt their lives online as if nothing could make them happier than others clicking the Like Button. Hmm. Maybe it's time to try my luck with the dark side.
Spoofing; the new Copy-Paste
Scammers can easily create fake identities and websites that look legitimate. Merely moving the dot up one decimal place would do it. Spoofing is the term. For example, I’m a part of a SteamX Official Telegram group and have been for over a year. They’re a legitimate company, and the Telegram is quite active. Unfortunately, I hardly have time to pay much attention because there is other work I must do. I have the group on Mute because participants are overly active. Which is a good sign, right? Weeks would go by before I browse the chat, especially now that the crypto market is on the skids. So last week, I was suddenly receiving repeating notifications, like every 15 minutes, while focused on other things.
The header of these notifications looked exactly like the official account, offering exceptionally high rewards for staking on BakerySwap. It just so happened they caught me at the most opportune moment, totally absorbed by other tasks. At a glance, the offer was not absurd and too good to let pass. The thought process going through my mind was– Official account offering high stake reward, go for it, else regret it later. It took a minute to connect my Metamask and transfer to the staking pool on BakerySwap. Thereupon, my SteamX tokens were goners.
I realized my error within the hour and wanted to scream at Telegram, SteamX and urinate on the grave of BakerySwap. All of whom I felt were somewhat responsible. The scammers duplicated the Telegram group and the BakerySwap website with precision, nearly exact copies.
With all the innovation we have, aren't companies capable of catching these culprits? After all, it's their reputation at stake.
No Face, No Shame
The ease of digital transactions makes it easy for scammers to steal money without seeing the faces of their dispirited victims. With no face attached, scammers never see the implications of their actions. Without that human connection, remorseful emotions could never arise. They only feel the excitement of getting away with it, an emotion as addicting as any drug. And we all know how difficult it is to rid ourselves of addictions. Easy money once, then easy money again, and again, until eventually, karma catches up. It gets easier to do each time because imposters have no shame and lack human decency and compassion. Surely their moms and dads didn’t raise them to be soulless like parasites.
Apathetic Regulation
Scams of little value occur in the millions monthly. It’s incomprehensible to think any cyberpolice could keep up. Undoubtedly scammers are aware of this fact. The lack of regulation on the internet allows scammers to get away with crimes as long as there are people who fall for it. More than just the gullible, but the naive and the greedy participants are easy prey. Because they will always be a plethora of such people, myself included, and perhaps Reader too– scammers will continue to ply their trade in cybercrimes. Because scams occur in such great numbers, no law enforcement can keep up, while most don’t even try.
Until valuable technology is available to the masses to protect themselves, authorities who have the resources will remain passive in the plights of the little guys. Filing an FBI or police report for my misgivings has yet served any form of justice on my behalf. If only we could track down the scammers ourselves, perhaps the frauds would be more reluctant. But for now, I take solace in knowing karma will hunt every one of them down.
**End of part 1. Part 2 coming soon.**
REFERENCES
**In 2021, IC3 continued to receive a record number of complaints from the American public: 847,376 reported complaints…** https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2021_IC3Report.pdf
**2021/2022 Data Analysis and Projections: 73 Important Cyber Crimes** https://financesonline.com/cybercrime-statistics/
**Hack Blotter: Cybercriminal Arrests and Convictions** https://cybersecurityventures.com/hack-blotter/
**How do governments track cellular devices?** https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/topic/stingray-technology-government-tracks-cellular-devices/
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May wealth, health and happiness be with you.
Read.cash and BCH, On-ramps to the Highway of Financial Freedom
As a passionate reader and writer, I genuinely appreciate having an audience. Being able to share my thoughts and insights with the world on Read.cash is evidence our innovations have evolved enormously. However, because writing takes enormous time, one can’t simply put work aside due to the lack of freedom that comes with not being financially independent. In this post, I want to explore the idea of financial freedom and how Bitcoin Cash and cryptocurrency could help me get there. Readers should not take this as advice because I am an amateur author, just looking for an audience.
What is financial independence?
Capital. Cushion. Cache. Financial independence is having enough money saved up to live comfortably without needing work. By work, I mean the act of exchanging time and energy for money. Once there is the option to not trade time for money, then Reader and I are either financially free or living off the good graces of others, like mooching off parents. True financial freedom entails we've utilized capital to grow a hefty cushion and manifested a substantial pot of cache. At the juncture where the choice to exchange time for money is optional, Reader and I will have transcended the realm of financial freedom. It's the dream for virtually everyone because it would mean having the freedom to do what we want when we desire and with whom we wish. More importantly, with money, we have more time. In the same manner, money can also buy time.
Predisposed by lack of financial freedom.
Without financial freedom, our time must be exchanged for money, a predisposition requiring one to expend energy for payment. 9-to-5ers and corporate employees can make a decent living, but a question should be asked: Is time spent working worth it? Are the gains worth compromising time and energy for? Maybe it turns out our idea of making a living is causing us to die even faster. Perhaps Reader and I will reflect on life at a ripe old age and regret all that lost time. How many millions of our ancestors have faced their deathbed with the burden of heartbreaking regrets? So dedicated to working we are that we have no time and energy to put forth the things we want to enjoy. That is the predisposition of the lack of financial freedom. We have to sell our time for money.
How can Bitcoin Cash help me achieve financial independence?
My primary objective on Read.cash is to read, research, write, and earn BCH. However, it would not be prudent to depend on it for great wealth, but I must retain hope. I am stacking blogs and hoping my efforts will be sufficient to showcase potential customers who need writers like myself. Read.cash is a side gig, a platform to build a portfolio. If Reader has ever searched for freelance jobs on Upwork you know my meaning. There's reason to believe employers aren't interested in resumes like they used to. Instead, a portfolio carries much more weight. Besides, Read.cash is yet another road like an on-ramp to the highway to financial freedom.
BCH could help build the road to financial independence in a few other ways. To begin with, BCH is a long-term investment because its value will grow over time, unlike the value of paychecks and cold hard cash. Secondly, Bitcoin Cash and many digital currencies will eventually be the norm. Not too long from now, we're buying groceries, plane tickets, and haircuts with BCH. That's the decentralized dream, right?
Looking at the BCHUSD chart, clearly, Bitcoin Cash could only be a small part of the equation, yet it is one part nonetheless. I’m taking advantage of it and hope Reader does too. Decentralized money is here to stay. Above all, Bitcoin Cash is ahead of its peers. Earning a steady income from writing for BCH would give you and me the freedom to quit our day jobs and focus on what I love.
Inherent risks of depending on Bitcoin Cash for financial independence.
There are a couple of risks to consider when relying on Bitcoin Cash and crypto for financial independence. The first is that the price of BCH could fall significantly, leaving us with less money than what was invested. The second is that the network could fail, meaning you would be unable to access your funds, period. One extreme example of network failure is the internet blackout imposed by the government, as the current civil war in Myanmar. Another reason is government restrictions on the cryptocurrency itself. And let's not forget about Not-your-keys, Not-your-wallet. While these risks are certainly possible, they're by no means guaranteed to happen. Therefore, diversification is always a good idea. I believe Bitcoin Cash and decentralized digital currency is a splendid store of value, albeit a backup plan is crucial to the path to financial independence.
When a million bucks?
Obviously, financial freedom is a subjective experience. While a million dollars may resemble a clear path to financial freedom for me, it may not be enough for those who's been there and lived it. A billionaire may consider a million dollars pocket change when someone dirt poor would think they hit the jackpot. For me, a million dollars could be enough. But considering my location and circumstances, a million bucks may not cover the remaining years of my life. Inflation is a factor, yet a million dollars is 41 times my annual expenditures. It would provide the capital to create a decent cushion but would likely not be enough to outlast my existence.
So like most Readers here, I have been working to accumulate a million my whole life. Halfway through, a few steps closer, a little wiser, and certainly a lot more diligent and stingy. I now just begin seeing my pile of Benjamins growing more rapidly.
Seriously, would our freedom benefit anyone else?
Once I have reached a level of financial independence, what will I do? What will you do? Financial freedom gives us the power to choose our own path and live the life we want. We don't have to answer to anyone else, and we can make our own decisions about our future. Knowing we don't have to worry about money allows us time to focus on other things. Because we have the cache and have the time. What will we do with our precious days?
`May 2, 2022: Wishing Readers wealth, health and happiness. Please comment and make suggestions.`
Starlink threatens the military regimes.
In countries with oppressive military regimes, the people have one-sided information. Simultaneously, the propaganda machine (the PM) pumps out data feeds to coerce citizens to love their almighty leader. One ruler government will do everything it can to manipulate the hearts and minds of the population, conforming kids to obey the hierarchical system from the first day of school. Citizens will never hear the misdeeds of many connected individuals due to censorship. Once Starlink circumvents the infrastructure layer of the internet, the military regimes lose control of the flow of information completely, including their capacity to shut it all down.
As the propaganda machine will have it, citizens mostly see and hear the things that accomplish the objectives of the upper echelon. In this scenario, the powerful and the rich intentionally sweep their misdeeds under the carpet. They bide their time with the great propaganda machine. When the old regime controls the internet, Starlink will forever be banned because it would open new channels for the masses and reveal greener pastures on the other side.
https://youtu.be/aCVr9hbdfCc
What is Starlink?
**Starlink is a new satellite-based internet service** that promises to bring high-speed, affordable internet to rural masses, regardless of their location. Within nations where oligarchs rule with clenched fists, satellite internet is a necessary innovation needed for independence from state-controlled networks. https://www.starlink.com/
Starlink would decrease the dreadful results of military regimes.
In countries with military dictatorships, the government controls the use of all communication frequencies. Since the dawn of the internet, the infrastructure has been under their control. The point now is they can shut down the internet any time they need.
Myanmar’s current uprising is a sample of how Starlink would be so disruptive. Satellite interconnectivity in second-world places would impartially tip the balance of power. In Burma (Myanmar’s more renowned title), the government has effectively pulled the plug on internet access. It’s now a virtual blackout, smothering the country and scattering resistance forces in disarray. What could 50 million citizens do without their typical access routes of communication? No phones, no internet, only government broadcasting through radio and TV. In such chaotic times is when we need other humans the most. For the same reason, the military regime will do whatever it can to retain total control of communication bandwidth. The old infrastructure has made it too easy for dictators to pull the plug, while Starlink could disarm their ultimate weapon.
The grim circumstances unraveling in Burma have some of us in a perpetual state of disbelief. But to think of it, wars and revolutions seem to be the new trend this decade. In SE Asia, we ought to prepare for the worst. The free world leaders in innovative technology should lend a hand to places trying their best to be involved in the global economic arena. Let it not be said we ignored the pleas of the less fortunate humans whose dire circumstances are the cause of kleptocratic regimes who have all the guns.
Military dictatorships are prone to civil disobedience, hence uprising.
A military government is a country administered by mighty forces of guns and economic manipulation, where censorship is par for the course and widely accepted because there have been no alternatives. Military dictatorships are countries like Egypt, Thailand, Burma, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Venezuela. This list is longer with autocratic regimes like absolute monarchs and one-party governments.
Military governments are controlled by Ogliarchs who could afford to employ the Generals or by Generals whose desire is to become an Oligarch. Once the system has organized its infrastructure of power-hoarding elements, they spin all types of propaganda to influence the people. To be humble and love their nation, revere their God, and honor their ruler for the greater good. At the same time, in the private palaces and jets, the sounds of SMS bank notifications for deposits chime on.
An autocratic system of rule is notoriously extractive of the nation's resources. It's almost as if the Oligarchs think the citizens are blind. But most regimes do it blatantly and flaunt their loots publically-- a General with a private chateau in the Alps, a police colonel with several dozen Ferraris. It's because massive earnings from the nation's GDP compensate those greedy leaders and their network of conspirators. When natives in such countries get fed up, it usually takes nothing short of a revolution to topple the corrupt regime.
How Starlink disrupts.
Starlink gives internet access to the people in the vicinity of the ground stations, used just like your wifi-routers without the wires connecting your terminal to the nodes on the streets. Like a wifi-router with a satellite dish that aims your internet signal to the sky. That communication signal circumvents internet infrastructure in your locality. Because of this, Big Brother can spy on you no longer.
Yearning for more functionality from Starlink.
If only we could do without the ground station and connect directly from our phones and laptops— the ground station is bulky and not mobile enough. To give access to the masses, we need a chip embedded in our cell phones instead. Without something to that effect, Starlink's current options for connectivity will need to overcome impenetrable barriers posed by military governments. Dictators will not allow usage of Starlink ground stations in the country they claim their own. Looking at the Starlink map on their website, most of the world is not ready for this innovation, like how unprepared we are for Cryptocurrencies.
In nations where the government wants complete control of their flock, Starlink may forever be “pending regulatory approval.” To overcome this, the global population needs phones, tablets, USB antennas, and laptops specially equipped to link up to the network of satellites. Once this is a reality, humanity will have taken a giant leap. At the same time, we could embrace this blessing by being more proactive in keeping our governments accountable to We the people. With impartial connectivity to Starlink, dictators will at least think twice before their next coup de’tat against their people. Simultaneously true decentralization can happen, while the blockchains would avail themselves to all of humanity in fairness and scale.
REFERENCES
**A growing body of research has studied how autocratic regimes interfere with internet communication to contain challenges to their rule.** https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0010414020912278
**Burma Army Attacks Continue to Terrorize Villagers in Chin State, 2 March 2022, Chin State, Burma** https://www.freeburmarangers.org/2022/03/03/burma-army-attacks-continue-to-terrorize-villagers-in-chin-state/
**Starlink Wiki FAQs** https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/wiki/faq
**Starlink Map of Availability**
https://www.starlink.com/map
I would like to welcome myself to Read.cash platform. Thanks for having me... crowd cheering, clapping, screaming "I love you!"
@bking86io
