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IC3 2009 Annual Report on Internet Crime Released
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Author:  Janez [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  IC3 2009 Annual Report on Internet Crime Released
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2010

IC3 2009 Annual Report on Internet Crime Released
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), released the 2009 Annual Report about fraudulent activity on the Internet today.

Online crime complaints increased substantially once again last year, according to the report. The IC3 received a total of 336,655 complaints, a 22.3 percent increase from 2008. The total loss linked to online fraud was $559.7 million; this is up from $265 million in 2008.

Year Complaints Received Dollar Loss
2009 336,655 $559.7 million
2008 275,284 $265 million
2007 206,884 $239.09 million
2006 207,492 $198.44 million
2005 231,493 $183.12 million

Although the complaints consisted of a variety of fraud types, advanced fee scams that fraudulently used the FBI's name ranked number one (16.6 percent). Non-delivery of merchandise and/or payment was the second most reported offense (11.9 percent).

The 2009 Annual Report details information related to the volume and scope of complaints, complainant and perpetrator characteristics, geographical data, most frequently reported scams and results of IC3 referrals.

“Law enforcement relies on the corporate sector and citizens to report when they encounter on-line suspicious activity so these schemes can be investigated and criminals can be arrested,” stated Peter Trahon, Section Chief of the FBI's Cyber Division. “Computer users are encouraged to have up-to-date security protection on their devices and evaluate email solicitations they receive with a healthy skepticism—if something seems too good to be true, it likely is.”

NW3C Director Donald Brackman said the report's findings underscore the threat posed by cyber criminals. “The figures contained in this report indicate that criminals are continuing to take full advantage of the anonymity afforded them by the Internet. They are also developing increasingly sophisticated means of defrauding unsuspecting consumers. Internet crime is evolving in ways we couldn't have imagined just five years ago.” But Brackman sounded an optimistic tone about the future. “With the public’s continued support, law enforcement will be better able to track down these perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

The report is posted in its entirety on the IC3 website.

About IC3
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a joint operation between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). IC3 receives, develops, and refers criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism utilized to alert authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level, the IC3 provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet-related crimes.


http://www.ic3.gov/media/2010/100312.aspx
Author:  admin [ Sat Mar 13, 2010 12:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: IC3 2009 Annual Report on Internet Crime Released
Janez wrote:
Year Complaints Received Dollar Loss
2009 336,655 $559.7 million
2008 275,284 $265 million
2007 206,884 $239.09 million
2006 207,492 $198.44 million
2005 231,493 $183.12 million


Another reason that the numbers are going up is that more people are reporting these scams now. Back when we became victims, in 2002, the numbers were MUCH lower just because people did not want to admit that they were a victim of a scam. So many people would blame the victim, saying that they are greedy or stupid, and that is why they fell for it. I think that sites like ours have helped people to see that is not always the case, and have encouraged more victims to report these crimes.

Now just think if we could STOP more of these scams from happening . . . that would mean that in 2009 $559.7 million would have STAYED IN THE UNITED STATES instead of going into scams and fraud.
Author:  ximora [ Sat Mar 13, 2010 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: IC3 2009 Annual Report on Internet Crime Released
I think those numbers may be even higher because a lot of people, even though they are the victims, have a real fear of being prosecuted as part of the scam so they won't come forward at all... it's sad that a victim should have such a fear of going to the authorities about it!
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