Overview
The Internet allows people all over the world to communicate with each other in an instant. Unfortunately, it also allows criminal crimes to take place, such as soliciting sex from a minor and child pornography. The Internet allows offenders to commit crimes against children anonymously. These offenders befriend children online and arrange to meet them in person in order to commit a crime.
Internet crimes have become the #1 priority of Federal and State officials. The FBI is constantly looking for new ways to detect crimes against children. For example, the FBI sets up ‘sting’ operations with unsuspecting people on the Internet. They pretend to be looking for child pornography in order to catch these offenders.
The penalties for child pornography are very severe and include jail or prison terms, along with registration as a sex offender for the rest of their life.
Minors and the Internet
Law enforcement officers go undercover on the Internet, pretending to be young children – hoping to catch people who try to meet, solicit or entice children for sexual activity. When these people are caught, they face a felony charge, which includes prison time and a lifetime registered as a sexual predator.
Types of Fraud/Scams
Identity Theft
This happens when a person steals your personal information Social Security number, address, phone number, bank account information, credit card information) and purchases all sorts of items with it. Your identity can be used to avoid criminal charges. Identity Theft is an increasingly serious problem that has become too common.
When you make a purchase online or do online banking, financial information is available for anyone to take. When you use your credit card online, you cannot be sure that the website is secure and that your information is protected. All websites are vulnerable to attacks by hackers looking for personal information.
There are criminal laws against identify theft. If your identity is stolen, it will take hours to close out accounts and to restore your good name. Identity theft is a felony and the consequences are severe. An offender can get up to 15 years in prison, a heavy fine, and forfeit all the items obtained from this theft. Some states allow the victim to file a civil suit against the thief. In other states, the thief can be prosecuted under laws that protect against fraud and theft of personal property. There are victims who have taken legal action against the institutions that did not protect their personal information on the website.
Nigerian 4-1-9 Scams
E-mails are sent through the Internet promising large sums of money in return for helping to transfer money out of Nigeria. It is named after the Nigerian criminal code dealing with fraud. The e-mail says you are his last opportunity for help and needs your assistance.
The e-mail will say that this person is a family member of a former government official who lost his life. He will go on to say as much as $35 million is in a bank account and he cannot get this money out without your help. If you help him get the money, he will send you between 15 and 50% of the total amount. He needs your bank account number to transfer the money. The perpetrator will send the victim official-looking documents and keep you informed of the situation. He will say that government officials need bribes or bank fees need to be paid. Once the victim sends the information, the offender will drain the bank account. These payments are known as advance payments. The sender will continue this scam as long as he can.
Many people realize that this is a scam; however, many are taken in by this promise of easy money.
Child Pornography
Child Pornography is defined by United States Federal Law as “any visual depiction that involves the use of a minor (under the age of 18) engaging in sexually explicit conduct.” Sexually explicit conduct means all graphic or any exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of the minor.
Distribution of child pornography has become very common on the Internet. This is illegal all over the world. This is a priority for law enforcement officials who investigate this matter aggressively.
Federal Law comes into play when there is any activity regarding child pornography across state lines or a foreign country. There is no constitutional right to have child pornography, to distribute it or produce it in this country. Child pornography is banned and not tolerated.
Consequences for possession, selling, distributing, or production of child pornography is serious and very severe. Convicted offenders will have to register as sex offenders for the rest of their life.
Solicitation of a Minor
When an adult contacts a minor under the age of 18 with the intent of having sexual activity with him or her, it is considered Solicitation of a Minor and this is a crime. This has become a huge problem over the last ten years. Law enforcement agencies have set up stings in order to catch these offenders. The consequences are very serious.
Protect your children
It is the responsibility of parents to protect their children. It is too easy for children to access chat rooms, bulletin boards and instant messaging – websites that can cause heartache for all concerned. Parents need to discuss these crimes and the online strangers with their children – tell them never to arrange a meeting with someone they meet online. Finally, parents need to install protective software for their children’s safety.
Conclusion
As the Internet continues to grow, tracking down and prosecuting parties engaged in online fraud can be very difficult. New types of crimes appear daily. Authorities are aggressively trying to stop identify theft. Online strangers attract harmless children to all kinds of crimes and activities. If you are involved in an Internet crime, an experienced attorney can discuss the best options for your legal situation. Child pornography is a serious crime that is not tolerated by most. If you are being investigated in connection with any of these crimes, it is important to obtain an experienced attorney so you can learn your rights.
Links to more information
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/internetschemes.htm
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