Internet-based rip-offs jumped 33 percent last year over the previous year, causing a loss of $265 million to the victims, with the fifth largest number of complaints coming from India, according to a new report.
Americans filed 275,284 reports (92.4 percent), claiming to be ripped off on the Internet, the highest number reported since the Internet Crime Complaint Centre, a partnership of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Centre, began keeping statistics in 2000.
Canada came a distant second with 1.77 percent complaints followed by Britain (0.95 percent), Australia (0.57 percent) and India 0.36 percent.
"This report illustrates that sophisticated computer fraud schemes continue to flourish as financial data migrates to the Internet," said Shawn Henry, the FBI's assistant director of the cyber division.
At $265 million the total dollar loss from such crimes was $26 million more than the price tag in 2007, the Centre said. For individual victims, the average amount lost was $931.
The dollar loss has been on a steady increase since 2004, while the number of cases referred to law enforcement has decreased steadily since that same year.
Henry said the figures show the need for computer users, in businesses and in homes, to be wary and use sound security practices while using the Internet.
The centre said the top three most frequent complaints were about merchandise that wasn't delivered or payment that wasn't received, Internet auction fraud and credit/debit card fraud. Other scams include confidence frauds such as Ponzi schemes, cheque fraud, the Nigerian letter fraud and identity fraud.
One popular identity fraud scam used during 2008 involved sending e-mails crafted to appear as if they had been sent by the FBI. Sometimes the scammers went so far as to say the mailings were from FBI Director Robert Mueller himself, according to the centre.
The e-mails would ask the recipient for personal information, such as a bank account numbers, claiming the FBI wanted the information to look into an impending financial transaction.
One variation of the scheme, according to the centre, was to send an e-mail saying the recipient is entitled to lottery money or an inheritance and the funds can be moved as soon as bank account information is supplied.
The FBI has issued warnings about such scams in the past and Monday's report included a new one: "The FBI does not contact US citizens regarding personal financial matters through unsolicited e-mails."
Agencies
Showing posts with label victims. Show all posts
Showing posts with label victims. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, December 8, 2008
Booster shots for global meltdown victims!
As the global economic slowdown spreads, countries after countries have announced rescue packages. The United States has so far committed $8.317 trillion to tackle the crisis. The United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and the European Union also have announced various stimulus packages.
Here’s a look at the specific fire-fighting measures announced by various countries.
United States
President-elect Barack Obama crafting $175 bn package to create 2.5 million jobs
President George Bush signed a $168 bn, 2-yr stimulus into law in early 2008
Package includes tax rebates of up to $600 per individual earning $75,000 gross income
Declared two stimulus packages worth $ 1.5 billion
Financial Package One
Bill to disburse $700 bn in stages
After the first $250 bn is authorised, President could request another $100 bn
Final $350 bn could be cleared by a further act of Congress
Financial Package Two
Fed will purchase up to $600 billion more in mortgage-related assets
Fed will lend up to $200 billion to the holders of securities backed by various types of consumer loans
Fed will buy up to $100 billion in direct obligations from mortgage giants
US Govt Measures
Up to about $1.8 trillion in Fed purchases of top-rated US dollar commercial paper under a facility launched in October
Up to about $1.9 trillion in new Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) guarantees for banks
Up to $800 billion in Fed support for mortgage and consumer credit markets
Up to $600 billion in Fed purchases of US dollar commercial paper and certificates of deposit under a Money Market Investor Funding
Up to $900 billion in Fed Term Auction Facility loans was offered to meet financial institutions' cash needs
Unlimited commitments to lend through discount window to banks and broker dealers(totaled $296.82 billion as of Nov. 19)
$700 billion for the Treasury to buy equity stakes in financial institutions
Treasury, the FDIC and the Fed have agreed to shoulder up to $249.3 billion in losses from a Citigroup portfolio
Unlimited temporary Fed currency swap lines with the Central banks, Fed maintains $165 billion in swap lines with other banks
Up to $50 billion from the Great Depression-era Exchange Stabilisation Fund
At least $26.57 billion in Treasury direct purchases of mortgage-backed securities since September
$200 billion to backstop Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Up to $144 billion in additional MBS purchases by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
AIG will get up to $152.5 billion in support from Treasury equity purchases
$300 billion for the Federal Housing Administration to refinance failing mortgages
$4 billion in grants to local communities to help them buy and repair homes
$29 billion in financing for JPMorgan Chase's government-brokered buyout of Bear Stearns & Co in March.
France
President Sarkozy unveiled a $32.9 billion stimulus plan
Targeting investment projects rather than directly aiding consumer
Measure to boost GDP by 0.6% by 2009
French package will cost 1.3% of GDP, will push budget deficit to 3.9%
Budget deficit will be above the European Union’s 3% limit
EU allowed the exceed budget limits in 2009
United Kingdom
Prepared a $29.06 bn package centering around consumer tax cut
Announced a range of tax cuts and govt spending over 18 months
Package includes 2.5% cut in VAT to 15%, postponement of corporate increase
Package will increase public borrowing to $178.6 bn next year, nearly 8% of Britain’s GDP
Germany
Unveiled plans worth 31 billion euros or 1.25% of GDP
Govt refusing to deliver tax cuts to help stimulate economic growth
Package will generate investments and new contracts worth over 50 billion euros over 2 years
New lending of up to 15 billion euros will be introduced, strengthen its lending activities
Russia
Unveiled $20 billion economic stimulus package
Package includes cut in profit tax to 24% from 20%
Govt sanctioned state-run banks to support industry with billions of dollars of soft lending
European Union
Fiscal boost amounting to 200 billion euros($260 bn), nearly 1.5% of EU’s GDP
EU commission urges member-states to commit 170 billion euros to their own rescue package
Considering system of guarantees and loan subsidies where credit is tight
Aid to SMEs increased to 30 billion euros from 10 billion Euros
China
Introduced stimulus package worth 4 trillion yuan ($586 bn)
Package mainly for govt spending on infra projects and earthquake-related relief work
Stimulus package to boost domestic demand through 2010
VAT rule changes allows companies to deduct the cost of core investment expenses
Govt increased export tax rebates for wide range of products
Australia
More than $ 12 bn for auto industry, family benefit and domestic residential backed mortgage market
Japan
$51 billion package for new govt spending
Package includes payout to families, tax break on mortgages
South Korea
$25 billion announced till date to ease financial crisis
Taiwan
$30 billion for domestic investment and consumption
Shopping voucher handout about Taiwan dollar 3,600 per citizen
Argentina
President announced $3.7 billion plan to deal with spreading financial crisis.
Source: Agencies
Here’s a look at the specific fire-fighting measures announced by various countries.
United States
President-elect Barack Obama crafting $175 bn package to create 2.5 million jobs
President George Bush signed a $168 bn, 2-yr stimulus into law in early 2008
Package includes tax rebates of up to $600 per individual earning $75,000 gross income
Declared two stimulus packages worth $ 1.5 billion
Financial Package One
Bill to disburse $700 bn in stages
After the first $250 bn is authorised, President could request another $100 bn
Final $350 bn could be cleared by a further act of Congress
Financial Package Two
Fed will purchase up to $600 billion more in mortgage-related assets
Fed will lend up to $200 billion to the holders of securities backed by various types of consumer loans
Fed will buy up to $100 billion in direct obligations from mortgage giants
US Govt Measures
Up to about $1.8 trillion in Fed purchases of top-rated US dollar commercial paper under a facility launched in October
Up to about $1.9 trillion in new Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) guarantees for banks
Up to $800 billion in Fed support for mortgage and consumer credit markets
Up to $600 billion in Fed purchases of US dollar commercial paper and certificates of deposit under a Money Market Investor Funding
Up to $900 billion in Fed Term Auction Facility loans was offered to meet financial institutions' cash needs
Unlimited commitments to lend through discount window to banks and broker dealers(totaled $296.82 billion as of Nov. 19)
$700 billion for the Treasury to buy equity stakes in financial institutions
Treasury, the FDIC and the Fed have agreed to shoulder up to $249.3 billion in losses from a Citigroup portfolio
Unlimited temporary Fed currency swap lines with the Central banks, Fed maintains $165 billion in swap lines with other banks
Up to $50 billion from the Great Depression-era Exchange Stabilisation Fund
At least $26.57 billion in Treasury direct purchases of mortgage-backed securities since September
$200 billion to backstop Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Up to $144 billion in additional MBS purchases by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
AIG will get up to $152.5 billion in support from Treasury equity purchases
$300 billion for the Federal Housing Administration to refinance failing mortgages
$4 billion in grants to local communities to help them buy and repair homes
$29 billion in financing for JPMorgan Chase's government-brokered buyout of Bear Stearns & Co in March.
France
President Sarkozy unveiled a $32.9 billion stimulus plan
Targeting investment projects rather than directly aiding consumer
Measure to boost GDP by 0.6% by 2009
French package will cost 1.3% of GDP, will push budget deficit to 3.9%
Budget deficit will be above the European Union’s 3% limit
EU allowed the exceed budget limits in 2009
United Kingdom
Prepared a $29.06 bn package centering around consumer tax cut
Announced a range of tax cuts and govt spending over 18 months
Package includes 2.5% cut in VAT to 15%, postponement of corporate increase
Package will increase public borrowing to $178.6 bn next year, nearly 8% of Britain’s GDP
Germany
Unveiled plans worth 31 billion euros or 1.25% of GDP
Govt refusing to deliver tax cuts to help stimulate economic growth
Package will generate investments and new contracts worth over 50 billion euros over 2 years
New lending of up to 15 billion euros will be introduced, strengthen its lending activities
Russia
Unveiled $20 billion economic stimulus package
Package includes cut in profit tax to 24% from 20%
Govt sanctioned state-run banks to support industry with billions of dollars of soft lending
European Union
Fiscal boost amounting to 200 billion euros($260 bn), nearly 1.5% of EU’s GDP
EU commission urges member-states to commit 170 billion euros to their own rescue package
Considering system of guarantees and loan subsidies where credit is tight
Aid to SMEs increased to 30 billion euros from 10 billion Euros
China
Introduced stimulus package worth 4 trillion yuan ($586 bn)
Package mainly for govt spending on infra projects and earthquake-related relief work
Stimulus package to boost domestic demand through 2010
VAT rule changes allows companies to deduct the cost of core investment expenses
Govt increased export tax rebates for wide range of products
Australia
More than $ 12 bn for auto industry, family benefit and domestic residential backed mortgage market
Japan
$51 billion package for new govt spending
Package includes payout to families, tax break on mortgages
South Korea
$25 billion announced till date to ease financial crisis
Taiwan
$30 billion for domestic investment and consumption
Shopping voucher handout about Taiwan dollar 3,600 per citizen
Argentina
President announced $3.7 billion plan to deal with spreading financial crisis.
Source: Agencies
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