Online Fraud Investigations

Online fraud is committed using the latest technology to gain information to illegally access an individual or company’s money. The internet provides a perfect opportunity for criminals to attempt to commit such crimes which are prominent in today’s fraud investigations. Using anti-virus and anti-spyware software are just 2 of the ways in which individuals and organisations try to stay safe, but online fraud and cyber crimes are still being committed at an alarming rate with significant success.In its most basic form, online fraud takes place when a criminal makes false representations through the internet in order to access sensitive information. Some examples of what have come to be known as “Scams” are:

Romance Scams: These scams are where fraudsters create fake online profiles in order to establish romantic relationships purely to extract money from unsuspecting victims. These fraudsters use stolen photos and ai to attempt to avoid detection. They have no intention to meet and their ultimate goal is to extract as much money out of the victim as possible

HMRC or Tax Scams: Criminals impersonate HMRC agents and threaten legal action or arrest if their victims fail to pay back taxes promptly. They often demand payment by prepaid cards or vouchers.

Identity Theft: The theft of personal information which is then often sold on to criminals on the dark web and used for the purpose of committing fraud and obtaining credit in the victims’ name.

Property and Rental Scams: Fake property listings and advertisements are created by the fraudsters in order to defraud those looking for a property to rent or buy. The fraudsters then ask victims to pay deposits to secure properties when the property is not even for sale or rent in the first place.

Employment Scams: Scammers advertise bogus employment opportunities that require the payment of an advance fee for training or equipment, leaving victims without employment and out of pocket.

Online Shopping Scams: Scammers post fraudulent offers or items for sale, then disappear after the payment has been made, leaving victims without the items they have purchased and their money.

Trading and Cryptocurrency Scams: Fraudsters set up syndicated online trading websites that they control. Victims invest a small amount to start with by topping up their online trading account. The Scammers then manipulate back end of the website / trading platform and make the victim believe that they are making huge returns via trading with them. The victim then invests more and more and are unsuspecting untill they come to withdraw their money and the so called profit.

Investment or business opportunity Scams: In many cases, these scams are initiated by an unsolicited message received via social media or dating apps. Following that, the scammer would offer the victim an investment opportunity, typically to become a cryptocurrency investor. They are then directed to a fraudulent website where they are encouraged to make some quick money for example by investing in cryptocurrency.

Catfish and Online Dating Scams: These are like romance scams in that they trick victims by creating false identities online. They often lead to emotional and financial abuse.

There are other forms of internet fraud that can access and take over a computer or network of computers by re-routing an internet connection and making every device vulnerable.