The world has become so big that even the internet is now part of it. While the internet has provided a lot of significant advances to human civilization, it has also given birth to a new set of problems that law enforcement individuals would have to face.
With that, this article aims to provide information on prosecuting and defending cybersecurity crimes and defining them for those who need more information about them.
What Constitutes a Cyber Crime?
According to law enforcement websites, any malicious activity all over the internet or the cyber world that threatens public safety and economic security is considered a cybercrime. The jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies has now been expanded to cover crimes that happen in the physical world and crimes that occur in the online world.
To properly prosecute a cybercrime, there is a need to define the kind of crime and be included in the legislation.
What Are The Common Crimes Committed Online?
There are many cyber crimes committed online, and we cannot discuss them all in a single article. With that, let us look at some of the available crimes you should look at when considering cybercrime.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
One of the most common scams in the United States today is targeting business emails and even personal ones. This is considered the most financially damaging crime online.
A BEC is also known as the email account compromise (EAC). It was a high risk, especially during the height of the pandemic when everyone was in work from home setup.
For a BEC to work, the scammers or the criminals will send an email as if it came from a legitimate source. It would then ask for information, personal and sensitive, to the recipient to confirm the transaction.
In another form, the scammer may ask someone to wire money in another fund for a purchase he did online. There are different versions of this, but there are also real victims.
The scammers use real-like email accounts and phishing emails. The recipient would then be confused or think that they have the correct email account.
Identity Theft
The following financially damaging kind of cybercrime is identity theft. According to the FBI website, identity theft is when “someone uses your identity in a crime or fraudulent act.” It can happen anytime and may occur regularly with the victim not knowing that he has already been the victim of identity theft.
Most of the identity theft that has occurred lately is because of data breaches. When personal information is hacked and leaked online, identity thieves may use the data they gathered about a person to claim social security, open an account, and open a credit card under the victim’s name.
Ransomware
There is also ransomware. The FBI website describes this as “a type of malicious software, or malware, that prevents you from accessing your computer files, systems, or networks and demands you pay ransom for their return.”
This is modern-day kidnapping of your files, your systems, your networks, and your information. In return for releasing the data back to you, the hacker would require you to pay a specific amount.
There are a couple of ways that you can get ransomware on your computer. The following are the ways:
- It can get on your computer when you open an email attachment. This is why you must stay away from emails and email attachments that do not come from people you know.
- When you click on an ad, there could also be ransomware that is attached to the ad.
- When you follow a link or a website, there could also be ransomware. This is why many websites put a safe pop-up where they ask you if you trust the sender of the link or the link itself.
Spoofing and Phishing
Spoofing and Phishing are two of the essential parts of BEC. By definition, there is spoofing when someone disguises an email address, the sender name, the phone number, and the website URL to convince the victim that they are talking to a trusted source.
There is Phishing when individuals email you to lure you in and get you to disclose your personal information. Once you click on the link they provided, you will think that you are at the correct email address and trust the website.
Online Predators
Perhaps the most devastating cybercrime is the one that is not about money or finances; it is about the safety of children on the internet.
Cyber Crimes Are Under FBI Jurisdiction
It is important to note that cybercrimes are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As such, they exercise national authority over the prosecution of these crimes, and we can expect that they will have no problem dealing with jurisdictional issues.
Defending Cyber Crime Prosecution
Now that you know the prosecution of cybercrime is on a federal level, it is essential to know that you also have a team that can help you with your specific needs. Our law firm is dedicated to ensuring that the law will protect the innocent.
Disclaimer:
The article that you have read is based on general applications of the law. It is not legal advice, and it is not to be construed as any legal consultation with the firm. No client-attorney relationship is created when you read the articles we have provided.
Let us help you out.
If you have been wrongfully charged with a cybersecurity crime, please contact our Southfield criminal defense attorneys as soon as possible. If you are a victim of a cybersecurity attack please contact our personal injury attorneys. Recently, we sued against a homeowner’s insurance policy and collected $75,000 for a cybersecurity breach and invasion of privacy. Give us a call today to learn your rights.
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