Re: Internet Identity and Credit Card Fraud

Cpl. Bart Veal

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Re: Internet Identity and Credit Card Fraud

There are currently over 185.55 million (Computer Industry Almanac) of Internet users in the United States and over 934 million worldwide. So it is no surprise that a small percentage of these Internet users employ the World Wide Web for fraudulent criminal gain. With nearly 75% of Americans “On-Line” one could see how the victimization of even a small percent of users could unwittingly contribute 125.6 million (IFCC-IC3) to Fraudulent Internet Enterprises. These thefts are found in a variety of crimes such as: Internet Auction Fraud, Credit Card/ Debit Card, Check Fraud, and Identity Theft.

While local reports of Internet related crimes have been low, Identity Fraud and Credit Card Fraud have been the most prevalent “scams” observed by the police department. Some members of the police department have even received fraudulent Internet Identity Scam Email while utilizing the Internet at work and at home.

Many of the scams used ask for personal information in response to an email where they claim you have won a lottery or your bank is doing a survey. This is referred to as “Phishing.” “Phishing” is a general term for criminals’ use of e-mails and websites – designed to look like e-mails and websites of well-known legitimate businesses, financial institutions, and government agencies – in order to deceive Internet users into disclosing their bank and financial account information or other personal data such as usernames and passwords. The “phishers” then take that information and use it for criminal purposes, such as identity theft and fraud. Many more Internet criminals’ employee the Internet to exercise one of the oldest forms of theft, a promise of goods in which you pay up-front for but are never delivered, this is referred to as Non-Delivery of Merchandise theft.

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department is here to “protect” you and offer you these important Internet Fraud tips.

1. Stop. Phishers typically include upsetting or exciting (but false) statements in their emails with one purpose in mind. They want people to react immediately to that false information, by clicking on the link and inputting the requested data before they take time to think through what they are doing. Internet users, however, need to resist that impulse to click immediately. No matter how upsetting or exciting the statements in the e-mail may be, there is always enough time to check out the information more closely.

2. Look. Internet users should look more closely at the claims made in the e-mail, think about whether those claims make sense, and be highly suspicious if the e-mail asks for numerous items of their personal information such as account numbers, usernames, or passwords. For example:

• If the e-mail indicates that it comes from a bank or other financial institution where you have a bank or credit-card account, but tells you that you have to enter your account information again, that makes no sense. Legitimate banks and financial institutions already have their customers' account numbers in their records. Even if the e-mail says a customer's account is being terminated, the real bank or financial institution will still have that customer's account number and identifying information.

• If the e-mail says that you have won a prize or are entitled to receive some special “deal,” but asks for financial or personal data, there is good reason to be highly suspicious. Legitimate companies that want to give you a real prize don’t ask you for extensive amounts of personal and financial information before you're entitled to receive it.

3. Call. If the e-mail or website purports to be from a legitimate company or financial institution, Internet users should call or e-mail that company directly and ask whether the e-mail or website is really from that company. To be sure that they are contacting the real company or institution where they have accounts, credit-card accountholders can call the toll-free customer numbers on the backs of their cards, and bank customers can call the telephone numbers on their bank statements.

* Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.

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

* Send them email to see if they have an active email address and be wary of sellers who use free email services where a credit card wasn't required to open the account.

* Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information.

* Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited email).

* Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.

* The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong.

* Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.

* Don't give out your credit card number(s) online unless the site is a secure and reputable site. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but might provide you some assurance.