Internet crime: fastest growing

2008-10-09 12:01

Johannesburg - Bank-related internet crime is the fastest growing crime in the world, the SA Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) said on Thursday.

"Consumer vigilance has become the most effective tool to fight bank related internet based crime, which is being regarded as the fastest growing form of crime, globally," said Susan Potgieter, head of Sabric's commercial crime office.

"The internet brings many advantages to the consumer, including easy access and unprecedented convenience for banking, shopping and many other services. But criminals take full advantage of that very characteristic of the internet, which makes it so valuable to them, to commit fraud against unsuspecting people."

It is difficult to police internet crime because there are no physical borders, Potgieter added.

"Awareness of the types of scams and frauds is therefore paramount in protecting yourself."

She said identity theft was common and people needed to keep their computer passwords secure and change them frequently.

Spoof websites

Also, internet cafes should never be used for internet banking and banking websites should never be accessed via hyperlinks.

Criminals often gather personal information through "phishing" or spoof websites, said Potgieter.

"Phishing attacks involve spam emails sent to hundreds or thousands of victims, purporting to be from a legitimate financial institution and conning the victim into parting with their banking log-in or other details. Spoof websites imitate legitimate ones, fooling the visitor into entering their details."

Spyware could also enter a computer under the pretence of being a joke, video clip or game.

"The spyware sneakily installs, gathers information and sends it back to the fraudster," said Potgieter.

It was crucial to install anti-virus software on one's computer, she added.

- SAPA