When we go about our day-to-day activities we can sometimes find ourselves letting our mind wander to the criminals that might interfere with them. We lock the doors to our homes or cars in anticipation that forgetting might invite unwelcome guests. We pay attention to our surroundings in unfamiliar areas to ensure our personal safety. Sometimes we even let friends or family know when we expect to return home on the off chance that something prevents us from doing so. Considering all of the occasions that we protect ourselves from crimes in reality, it may lead one to wonder why our defenses are so much lower when we are behind our computer screens. One reason may be that our physical safety seems guaranteed. Another might be that we simply don’t understand the risks of criminal activity involved when using the Internet. In reality, however, there are a variety of crimes that take place on the Internet about which many of us are unaware. Furthermore, it is possible to commit internet crimes without the user’s knowledge.
Phishing
This is the technical term that covers all of those emails you see from your dad’s address that you know he never sent. It happens when a hacker unlawfully accesses someone’s computer and sends multiple emails with the purpose of fooling recipients into clicking links. The click can lead to personal information being handed over to the hacker.
Blackmail
Gone are the days of cartoon-like letters written in newspaper print demanding cash. Nowadays a decent amount of blackmailing takes place over the Internet. The reasons for this are pretty straightforward: You can threaten someone anonymously, from the comfort of a computer screen without really exposing yourself to much risk.
Gambling
A good deal of sports betting takes place online. Any use of the Internet to bet on sports is a federal crime. In fact, it could land a gambler in prison for up to two years. While states are still allowed to regulate gambling as they see fit, the world of sports betting remains illegal.
Fraud
In general, fraud covers any deceptive act that seeks to earn the defrauding party enrichment that they aren’t entitled to. On the Internet this seems to happen often through operations that charge for merchandise or services without ever delivering. Particularly when it comes to small purchases, many people simply let it go. At the very least, you should always be sure to report these operations.
Harassment
The only difference between harassing behavior, or cyberstalking, and blackmailing behavior is that the blackmailer is seeking to gain something from their victim. The harasser only seeks to annoy, frustrate, intimidate, or embarrass their victim. With the advent of social media, the dropping ages of the public using social media, and the ability to instantly post online, harassment has become more public and more prevalent.
At Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office we want to help protect your rights if you have been accused of an internet crime. We are here to listen and to help craft a strategy unique to your case. Contact us today and let us begin immediately.