Three Ways Cyber Criminals Could Enlist You

You could be aiding a cyber criminal and not even know it. Their crafty schemes can make innocent computer users look like accomplices to a crime. Once the setup is done and the crime complete, the authorities go knocking on the wrong door while the bad guys disappear.

Here are three common methods of cyber criminals:

1. Use your computer as the zombie machine

Trojans, viruses and worms can cause more trouble than computer malfunctions. Once this malware is on a computer, a cyber criminal may be able to use the computers without the owner even knowing. The computer becomes a zombie machine. Cyber criminals can launch phishing attacks and send spam using zombie machines, while the criminal activity traces back to an unknowing and innocent user.

Without the protection of anti-virus software or a firewall, computer users put themselves at risk, particularly when they download files from unknown or uncommon Web sites.

2. Skip out of town, as you ship out their stolen goods

A method called "re-shipping" is common among criminals who steal credit card numbers. These criminals typically look to buy products, but, because of the stolen card, they have trouble shipping the products without getting caught. As a dirty solution, these criminals make up a story that they use to enlist an innocent "friend," "employee," or "business partner" to receive the packages.

When the packages arrive, the friend has instructions to re-ship them to a designated address, where the criminal can make a pick-up. The friend may think they're doing a favor or helping to start a business, but they are an unknowing conspirator in the crime. Once the packages are shipped, the friend never hears from the criminal again. When the purchase on the fraudulent credit card is discovered, the products are gone, resulting in a great loss for the original seller of the products. Often, the innocent re-shipper is held responsible.

3. Trade bad checks for your good cash

In check-cashing schemes, innocent people are tricked into processing payments, such as from eBay transactions, and wire the money to criminals.

In a typical scheme, a criminal employer engages new employees via email, where they fail to recognize a scam. The employer asks them to process a check payment and immediately wire the money far away, probably out of the country. As commission, the employee is told to keep a fraction of the money. Later, the check bounces, and the bank charges the employee for the fraudulent transaction.

Criminals get away with these scams by using money-transfer services, such as Western Union, which do not have procedures for tracing the receiver of the money.

Similarly, a criminal may pretend to have interest in buying an item from a person who has posted a classified ad online. They send the seller a cashier’s check for a greater value than the asking price, and then they ask the seller to wire the difference in price through Western Union. The seller becomes the victim, possibly losing both the money and the item for sale.

Cyber attacks are increasing at rapid speed, from fraud and phishing, to online retail misdeeds and many financial troubles. Stay informed to keep from falling prey to any of these scandals.

References

• Cyber Crime Preys on All Internet Users  (VOA News.com)
• Three Versions of Re-shippers  (Make Money Online Blog)

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