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Study: 10,000 people report they lost $18 million to Internet fraud © 2001 siliconvalley and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.siliconvalley.com CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Nearly 10,000 Americans reported losing $18 million in online scams last year, according to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center's annual report. The average loss for those scammed was $435. Almost half of the 16,775 fraud cases investigated by the center were people complaining they were duped in online auctions. Other scams included non-delivery of promised merchandise and credit card fraud. A scam known as Nigerian letter fraud netted more than $5,000 per victim who complained to the center. The con involves an e-mail purportedly sent from the Nigerian government requesting use of the recipient's bank account to receive millions of dollars in funds, generally described as over-invoiced contracts. Scammers then ask for upfront cash to pay for licenses, taxes or other nonexistent fees. Victims of Internet cons ranged from 10 to 100 years old and were scattered worldwide. Most complainants were male, with an average age of 39. Victims over age 60 were most at risk for losing large amounts of money, with a far higher proportion losing more than $5,000 than any other age category, according to the report. Created in 2000 and based in Fairmont, the complaint center is a joint venture of the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. In addition to fraud, the center also fielded complaints involving child pornography and computer intrusions. Richard Johnston, who directs the center, expected complaints to rise from 1,000 a week to 1,000 a day next year as the center becomes better known. But prosecuting Internet con artists will be difficult since perpetrators often live thousands of miles from their victims and jurisdictional issues often require the cooperation of multiple agencies, said Thomas Richardson, deputy assistant director of the FBI's criminal investigative division. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2001 siliconvalley and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.siliconvalley.com ============================================================ Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts are Back! What a Riot! Join the fun as Dean Martin and his panel of pals fire potshots, putdowns and pranks at Hollywood legends: Frank, Sammy, Lucy and more. Click Here! http://click.topica.com/caaakjXb1dhr0b2EDp2f/DeanMartinRoasts ============================================================ --via http://techPolice.com archive: http://theMezz.com/cybercrime/archive subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --via http://theMezz.com ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?b1dhr0.b2EDp2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
