New FBI Internet Crime Report - How to Protect Yourself!

On April 22, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the IC3, released its annual 2018 report on Internet reported crime statistics for 2014 through 2018.

Here are some key findings:

- Internet-enabled theft, fraud, and exploitation remain pervasive and were responsible for a staggering $2.7 billion in financial losses in 2018. Reported losses for 2015 totaled less than $1.1 billion; this means reported losses have nearly tripled in three short years.

- IC3 received 351,936 complaints in 2018—an average of more than 900 every day. 

- The age group most at risk were those over 50 years of age.

- The most frequently reported complaints were for non-payment/non-delivery scams, extortion, and personal data breaches. Scams included email compromises, romance / confidence frauds, and investment / pyramid / Ponzi schemes.

- Bright spots reported by the IC3 include the establishment in February 2018 of the Recovery Asset Team and its success in recovering funds lost in business email compromise scams. The team was able to successfully recover more than $192 million in funds—a recovery rate of 75 percent.

- According to Donna Gregory, the IC3 Chief, “The 2018 report shows how prevalent these crimes are. It also shows that the financial toll is substantial and a victim can be anyone who uses a connected device.”

- To increase recovery chances, it is imperative victims contact their bank and IC3 immediately.

- The IC3 website provides a list of scams along with avoidance tips. Visit: https:/www.ic3.govcrimeschemes.aspx

- Preventive actions include keeping hardware and software updated and protected by anti-virus programs and strong passwords, learning to recognize suspicious messages, and researching and verifying the legitimacy of every offer, person, message, or opportunity presented online. You’ll find more prevention tips at https://www.ic3.govpreventiontips.aspx

Steve Carter, the show’s host, recommends ongoing vigilance to help ensure online safety to include verifying the source of any and all emails asking you to click a link. Change passwords frequently.

While not covered in the podcast, using a password tool such as LastPass https://www.lastpass.com/
can enhance online security. See “PC Magazine” review of password managers
https://www.pcmag.com/roundup300318/the-best-password-managers

To report an Internet related crime, go to https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

Summary news release: https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/ic3-releases-2018-internet-crime-report-042219

To download the full report, go to https://www.ic3.gov/media/annualreport/2018_IC3Report.pdf

To contact the show, subscribe, or listen to previous episodes, go to http://SafeLivingToday.com