Internet crimes in 2007 cost nearly $240 million, a $40 million increase from 2006, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported.
According to the FBI’s 2007 Internet Crime Report, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 206,884 complaints of crimes perpetrated over the Internet during 2007. Of the complaints received, more than 90,000 were referred to law enforcement around the nation, amounting to nearly $240 million in reported losses.
“The Internet presents a wealth of opportunity for would-be criminals to prey on unsuspecting victims, and this report shows how extensive these types of crime have become,” said FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director James E. Finch. “What this report does not show is how often this type of activity goes unreported. Filing a complaint through IC3 is the best way to alert law enforcement authorities of Internet crime.”
Although Internet auction fraud was the most widely reported complaint, others cited in the report include fraudulent activity such as non-delivery of purchases and credit/debit card fraud, and non-fraudulent activity such as computer intrusions, spam/unsolicited e-mail, and child pornography. In an effort to raise public awareness, the report also describes the characteristics of commonly reported scams such as those involving the purchase or sale of pets, check scams, e-mail spam, and online dating fraud.
IC3 is a joint operation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center, which is a Bureau of Justice Assistance program.
The 2007 Internet Crime Report is available at www.ic3.gov/media/annualreports.aspx. To receive the latest information about the FBI, visit www.fbi.gov to sign up for e-mail alerts.
Source: FBI
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