Changing Computer Karma: But Old Demons Still Reign
A
Review of After Action Reports, Pt. 2
Computer Karma's
gonna get you
It's
gonna take away all your bread
Better use a bunch of different passwords
Before your bank account is in the red
— With Apologies to Mr.
John Lennon
When
I began my little fledgling computer biz, around the fin de siècle, the
greatest danger facing the average computer was the remote destruction
of the PC motherboard, and turning the box into a boat anchor.
Although that threat still exists, the most likely way a consumer
computer will be harmed by hacking is fraud. So great is the
threat of online consumer fraud how that the FBI, along with the Federal Trade Commission,
has setup
a website devoted to subject of consumer fraud.
What is surprising about the data on fraud
collected by Uncle Sam is, despite all the crowing about being "internet
natives," the younger the victim, the more likely it is that the
fraud will succeed. Forty-eight percent of those reporting being
victims of fraud were 19 years of age. As the age of victims
increases, the age group percentage of victims decline. If the
consumer was 55 years of age, percentage wise that person had a 31
percent chance of being victimized by fraudsters. An 80 year old
had only 20 percent chance of becoming a fraud victim.
I am sure that there several demographic reasons for the variations based on the age of any potential fraud victim becoming an actual fraud victim. Common sense would say that one reason for this age discrepancy would be that youngsters spend more time online, and probably less skeptical of online hype.
Of course, common sense would also account for the fact that, although the older a person is the less likely one is to become a victim of fraud mainly from less computer use, once so victimized, the amount of dollars extracted from the fraud victim goes up significantly. Although, eighty year olds are the least likely to be fraud victims, this group of sheep gives up the most fleece once flocked. This also chides with my field experience. Same reason Willy Sutton robbed banks. It's where the money is. I suppose the scammers going after young people work on a volume business model. Then again, the costs associated with a online scam campaign are quite low when compared with, say, knocking off a Las Vegas casino.
The
FTC on its website breaks down the 2022 fraud numbers not only by age,
but also by economic sector, by type of fraud, and for our use here, by
state. All of this data is collected, summarized, and offered to
the public at
Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2022.
It's work has been made available to anyone and can be had in a pdf from
here.
I find it surprising that Georgia is ranked
First In the Nation In Fraud for 2022. I suppose a change in culture has
occurred in the deep South. . In the 1980s, when I did
business across the USA, it was the states of Old Confederacy where business
owners were among those that were most likely to operate with integrity.
The other surprise to me is that Florida is merely ranked third.
My best guess, based strictly on experience and history, would have
been Florida would come
in First In the Nation i\In Fraud.
Of course, this is a statistical evaluation based on population. The greatest number of actual reports of fraud in 2022 also came from the nation's most populace state, California. And, it is in California, where I personally encounter; try to counter; often can only console; and hopefully prevent any future attacks that are most commonly defrauding real live seniors out of surprising amounts of real live cash. That most common online fraud, in my experience, is the Fake AV Alert. The FBI calls the Fake AV alert a type of "Call Center Fraud." The FBI has available online a 32 page report called, "2022 INTERNET CRIME REPORT." A pdf can be had here.
That seniors are the most common
flock sheared by the Fake AV Alert scam
follows a certain logic. Indeed, the only commonalities between
victims of this scam I have known are (age); (b) ability to pay the
crooks; (c) a certain regret about not calling me sooner rather than
later.
Indeed, the FBI's numbers are coincide with my experience. And the numbers are staggering.
Call centers overwhelmingly target the
elderly, with devastating effects. Almost half the victims
report to
be over 60 (46%), and experience 69% of the losses (over
$724
million).
The actual numbers cited are: Tech and Customer Support instances: 32,538; total losses: $806,551,993, representing an increase in 2022 of 132%, according to the FBI report. A complete breakdown of all the computer crime stats can be read from the free pdf available here. That seniors are the usual targets is unfortunate; but only follows since that is the demographic with the least knowledge of ins and outs of the computers business.
Of course, no small discussions like those made here can cover all the facts and issues that surround the vast topic of computer crime. Both Parts 1 and 2 here, have had the same thesis and intent. First of all, to focus on one state, California, where my clients and I reside. And, also, where my relevant real world experiences have occurred. My second intent here, is to show that the computer crimes that are happening everywhere and all the time victimize real people whether they are directly impacted by the attack, or more like collateral damage. Lastly, to make my case — and it is my very fervent belief — that so much these seemingly never ending fraud could be thwarted, only is people would simply rely more on what I like to the Miracle of Human Intelligence. So much so that I have created a new index page with that same name. The new page has links to Dispatches that are intended to offer some useful tips on ways to take command of your own security when online. It can be had here.
¯\_(ツ)_/
Gerald Reiff