The
Internet gives us access to the world.
The enhancement in technology over the last decade has made our lives
much easier. We are now able to make
payments online, communicate across the world, search for information on any
topic, and much more. The possibilities
are endless. However, because we have
access to the world, the world now has access to us.
Surfing
across the web is definitely beneficial.
You can watch movies, play games, and even decorate your whole house
while just sitting at your computer.
Because information is so easily accessible, it gives criminals easier
opportunities. Scams surround the
Internet resulting in identities stolen and financial information
compromised. For example, Craigslist.org
is a great website to barter, purchase, or sell locally. It provides instant access to a huge yard
sale. However, Craigslist is full of
scams that many people are unaware of. A
few years ago I was searching for a new place to rent. I figured Craigslist would be the perfect
place to search because it was easy and it was free. I came across this house that was very
beautiful, large, and cheap! It seemed
to good to be true. I immediately
applied to the ad showing my great interest in renting the property. The next day I received a quick response
stating that the property was still available and asking me a few questions;
such as, “Are you currently employed?
“Do you have any pets?” After
completing the questionnaire they showed great interest in me and sent me an
email regarding down payment options. The
email stated that they were currently on a work trip in Africa and if I were to
send them my down payment they would send me a key to the house. At that point I knew the situation was
sketchy. After closely reviewing the
email I realized the English was not correct and there were many grammar
errors. So, I did some research. Turns out, the same house was listed in a
different spot on Craigslist, for twice the price, by a real estate
company. I contacted the company and
they said they receive hundreds of calls daily about the same scam about the
same house and the FBI was currently investigating it. Luckily, I was smart enough to take a closer
look and refrain from sending any money to another country. However, many people, usually the older
generation, are not so resistant or alert towards Internet scams. These scams aren’t just found on
Craigslist. There are thousands of scams
across the Internet and they are effective because people are so careless. For example, according to an article in the
Huffington Post, “Internet romance scams were a common enough occurrence in
2011 to cost victims $50 million” (Bindley, 2012). Scams are especially effective when it’s from
another country because they are hard to track and don’t have as much reliable defense
against crime as the United States.
Even thought the Internet gives us access to a countless number
of things, we need to be aware and alert of the cons that come along with
it. It’s best to visit secure websites,
especially if you’re making any time of payment or inputting personal
information. Also, it’s important for
web users to be aware and understand the risks involved when using the
Internet. With that being said, users
must cautious about what they share online because the Internet attracts
criminals.
References
Bindley, Katherine. "Internet Romance Scams Cost Victims $50 Million in 2011."Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. N.p., 15 May 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/online-romance-scams-cost-50-million-in-2011_n_1518162.html>.
