Types of crimes
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes. In Massachusetts, organized crime groups hacked into the State Registry of Motor Vehicles databases and have been issuing birth certificates, which paves the way for Social Security numbers, drivers' licenses, and other forms of identification.
"Malware," the common term for malicious software, is on the rise as well. Viruses and worms are more than just a nuisance, they have been identified as a powerful way to infiltrate thousands of computers and steal information, such as a company's e-mail directory or an individual's banking account number, username, and password. Used in conjunction with Trojan horses (a program in which harmful code is hidden inside of a harmless program), viruses can take advantage of previously infected computers and use them to send spam or host anything from kiddie porn to phony banks. These hijacked computer proxies are then sold, eBay-style, on message boards set up specifically for that purpose. "Accepted payment methods ... include E-gold transactions and WebMoney and Western Union money transfers. Ironically, organized e-criminals don't accept credit cards."
Another slick ploy criminals use is to offer popular software titles at deep discounts on legitimate-looking Web sites. Buyers input their credit card information and never receive the item. When the charge does not show up on their bill, they forget about the transaction. But their identity has been collected and will soon be available for sale on a bulk credit card "dump." Additionally, "carders"-people who trade stolen credit card information-have been identified as organizing exchange of information on Internet relay chats (IRCs), making this a truly global crime.
Carders often gather their information by "phishing"- using spam impersonating banks, online merchants, and Internet service providers to direct people to Web sites that appear to be legitimate e-commerce sites. Users are then asked to provide passwords, bank account information, or credit card numbers, typically under the guise of updating an account.
