April 6, 2015 – Page 2 – RISC Management and Consulting

Cybercrime is the “use of a computer as an instrument to further illegal ends, such as committing fraud, trafficking in child pornography and intellectual property, stealing identifies, or violating privacy” according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (2014, November 2). This topic became one of the top priorities for the Attorney General Eric Holder of the Department of Justice. The key areas include internet stalking, computer hacking and intellectual property, and forensics.

Some examples of major achievements includes 21 individuals charged in the United States for alleged roles in International Internet Fraud Scheme as reported by Ferrer (2014, December 8). Another example came from Haag (2014, December 8) involving prosecution of Internet Hacktivist Group Anonymous. The 3rd example was reported in 2011 but it is important to mention to raise awareness on the severity cybercrime has developed into. On November 4, 2011 a Malaysian citizen was sentenced for 10 years imprisonment by the United States District Judge Dora Irizarry for his crime of hacking into the Federal Reserve Bank and other private financial institutions. In this last example, the Secret Service took an aggressive stance in the investigation of computer intrusions and other cybercrimes.

References

Cybercrime. (2014, November 2). Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/130595/cybercrime

U.S. Attorneys. (2014, December 23). Priorities areas: Cybercrime. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/usao/priority-areas/cyber-crime

Identity theft and identity fraud are similar in that they pertain to all types of crime where someone wrongfully obtain and use another person’s information without their consent. The information is usually used for economic gain involving fraud and deception. Fingerprints or other biometrics are unique to you and cannot be given to someone else for their own use, however your sensitive information such as your Social Security Number, date of birth, etc. can be used by others to apply for credit. In the United States and Canada, there are numerous reports of unauthorized people removing funds from innocent citizens without their knowledge. The impression is lasting from acquiring vast debts and being accused of crimes that they did not commit. Lastly, the out of pocket financial loss from trying to restore their reputation and correcting erroneous information created by criminals can be exhausting mentally, physically and financially.

A good example of identity theft was recounted by the convicted felon who incurred over $100,000 credit card debt, obtained a federal home loan, and bought homes, motorcycles, and handguns in the victim’s name. This convicted felon even called the victim and taunted him. The victim and his wife spent $15,000 from their own funds trying to restore their credit and reputation. The process took over four years and in the meantime the guilty party only served a brief sentence and did not have to pay restitution to the victim for the harm he had caused. This was one of many cases that induced Congress in 1998 to create an updated federal offense of identity theft. Earlier last month, both the White House and Congress responded by drafting a legislation to undertake the nation’s increasing data security challenges called the Data Security and Breach Notification Act.