With the development of technology and the use of the internet nowadays, it is not surprising that some ill-minded people use it for crimes. Cybercrime is a crime that involves a network and a computer, and it can be scary because of the gravity of effect it often has. To make you aware of these crimes, we have listed ten types of the most common cybercrimes and another ten that you might not know yet.
- Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are used by scammers to make you give out your personal and confidential information such as passwords, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers. They can get in touch with you through text, email, or a phone call, sometimes even through social media. They pretend to be a trustworthy business so that you would willingly provide them with your information. Sometimes, they also ask you to answer a quick survey and lure you with a prize. They will ask for your information and make it seem that they are helping you but the truth is that they are trying to steal from you, so always be on the look for these scammers.
- Online Scams
These scams are just like any other scams, but they happen online. This can be in the form of an ad congratulating you for having won something and asking you to enter your card details for shipping fees. Unfortunately, there will never be any prizes coming to your doorstep, but you will begin seeing transactions in your bank statement that you didn’t make.
- Malware
Malware aims to harm your data and device. It is a name for different types of viruses such as “spyware” and “Trojan.” Once malware gets into your computer, it will cause damage to your device or computer and makes way for the bad people to steal your important details.
- Email Bombing
Email bombing is not a form of stealing but more of abuse. It is overloading someone or a particular email address with emails. A large bulk of emails can cause the server to slow down or even crash. Although you are not in danger of being stolen from, the effect of email bombing can be hard to fix and can be a lot of hassle.
- Virus dissemination
Virus dissemination is like a contagious disease for a computer system. It does not only get a piece of the virus on one of your systems but spreads it to other software in the system. It needs to be appropriately stopped and put in a safe place and undergo a quarantine process, or else, the process happens again.
- Logic Bombs
Logic bombs are very similar to the virus, only small sections of a program that are caused by an event. It can be because of a particular space filled, or a specific date and time, or the removal of a file. Some programs can delete important parts of codes which can make your software of no use anymore. People who do this are often the ones who have access to the system.
- Theft
This term is used for any kind of theft that transpires online. This can be in the form of fake emails, fake ads, and viruses. Internet theft seeks to get your personal information and use it to steal money from your bank account or making purchases with your information.
- Social Media Hack and Spamming
This is a form of invasion of privacy. Celebrities usually fall victim to this crime. They may be seen posting something that they are unlikely to post or follow someone on social media that they wouldn’t want to follow. In more severe events, hackers can spread content that can ruin your reputation.
On the other hand, spamming happens when someone creates a fake account and becomes friends with someone. The phony account now can spam inboxes with bulk messaging. Aside from spreading malware, spamming can also spread malicious links to mislead, harm or damage the device or the person.
- Electric Money Laundering
From the term itself, money from illegal activities needs to be laundered first before it can be used for legal transactions. Wire transfers can be one way to do money laundering. It was initially hard for a bank to track transactions due to a high volume of transactions happening every second of the day, but they are continuously looking into the problem and filing away suspicious activities.
- Sales and Investment Fraud
This can be a form of a phishing scam, only more thorough. The fraudster will pretend as an investment broker and source contact details and account information for account holders and trick them with easy-money opportunities. People who do this seem trustworthy because they present real results and talk about your account.
- Eavesdropping and Surveillance
Eavesdropping can be done over the phone or online and is considered a form of cybercrime. Wiretapping is the most common way to eavesdrop. The culprit can connect a listening device to your phone, which will enable him to monitor your conversations in secret. With recent technologies we have, even computers can now be hacked form surveillance and eavesdropping
- Software Piracy
The internet makes almost everything possible, also finding your favorite song or movie for free. However, some are not legal and authorized which is called software piracy, which is the illegal distribution of computer software. It may seem harmless, but it involves its risks such as viruses, Trojans, and other forms of malware. Further, it is a form of stealing because you are not paying the producer of the content.
- Data Diddling
The name may sound funny to you, but this crime can have a huge effect on anyone affected. Data diddling is the process of tampering data entries in the system. This is especially damaging if done to adjust financial figures and make the system of no use.
- Salami Slicing Attack
This is another term that may seem harmless at first but will make sense once discussed. This is a type a technique used by criminals to steal money or other resources one information at a time. You will hardly see any change to your bank account because there is an only small chunk of money stolen from it. The criminals will do this to different people or resources, and the money will then accumulate to a significant sum as time passes.
- Hacking
This is probably one of the most common cybercrimes out there. Anyone can fall victim to this scheme. The hacker will invade your access to your computer system without your consent. The hacker can do this for many reasons including, power, or greed, even to show that they are capable enough of doing something illegal. In some serious cases, hackers steal banking information and financial data from a corporation.
- Cyber Stalking
Cyberstalking is more common among teenagers and young adults. In most cases, the victim and the stalker know each other. The culprit usually harasses the victim by sending a lot of emails and messages. The stalker wants the victim to be disrupted and miserable. The stalker makes way for the victim to be in contact with him, like what happens in a typical stalking scenario.
- Cyber Bullying
Many people have fallen prey to cyberbullying, primarily through social media. Cyberbullying is almost identical to cyberstalking only the messages are offensive and abusive, and the aim is to hurt the victim. Cyberbullying is not limited to words. The bully can also post images and videos to attack the victim. The criminal can also make fake accounts to post hurtful content and send abusive messages to the victim.
- Child Soliciting and Abuse
This is one of the most disturbing cybercrimes because it involves children. It is a type of cybercrime where children are used for pornography through chat rooms. It is not limited to live chats but also in forms of material showing sexual abuse to children. Police closely monitor this because most children who fall victim for these are minors. The criminals can pretend to be someone else; that is why it is a threat to anyone.
- Identity Theft
Identity theft is one of the top cybercrimes ever since the beginning of the internet. Identity theft happens because criminals want to create fraud for their financial advancement. Thieves steal personal information such as credit card details, email addresses, and addresses. Using this information, they can create new bank accounts and use them for illegal activities.
- Ransomware
The most recent company that has been affected by ransomware is the NHS. Ransomware enters your network and encrypts files, paralyzing your access to them. To regain your access to the data, the criminal will send you a message demanding money. Once you pay the ransom, the criminal gets their easy money.
Why You Need to Be Protected
It pays to know about these things because cybercriminals are out there waiting for the perfect moment to steal something valuable from you. Being aware of these crimes is the first step to protecting yourself from being their victim.