This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Key Points
- Internet crime is a serious problem that causes real economic damage and major losses for the victims.
- The principle vectors for Internet crime are spam and zombie botnets.
- Spam allows the Internet criminals to reach a large audience. The spam may be a direct solicitation for a criminal fraud or part of a larger scheme.
- A zombie is a computer that has been taken over by a criminal. A botnet is a network of zombie computers controlled by a criminal.
- Computer criminals use compromised computers to hide their tracks in the same way that bank robbers use stolen cars as getaway vehicles.
- Turning a computer into a zombie allows the criminal to effectively steal the computer while the owner still pays for the electricity and network connection.
- Internet crimes are typically variations of traditional crimes—often confidence tricks.
- Phishing is stealing credentials, usually credit card numbers or usernames and passwords for online bank accounts.
- Carding is the process of turning stolen credentials into cash.
- Package reshippers receive stolen goods and forward them on to the criminal gangs.
- Money movers perform money laundering.
- "Mules" are recruited into these schemes through online advertisements for work-at-home schemes.
- Internet criminals also operate protection rackets.
- If the victim refuses to pay, his site is targeted by a denial of service attack.
- Advance fee frauds induce the mark to pay an upfront fee in the hope of realizing a large profit.
- The letters that offer to share $20 million are advance fee frauds.
- Other variations include lotteries that ask for an upfront fee and re-victimization fraud.
- The victims of these scams are often seniors with large retirement savings.
- Terrorists are unlikely to use the Internet for political direct action, but Internet crime may be an attractive means of raising money.
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