[LINK] [Another] Internet Fraud

[Roger Clarke]

Internet fraud triples to $54 million
Sydney Morning Herald
Date: April 14 2003
By Malcolm Brown
http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2003/04/13/1050172476237.htm

Australia ranked third in the world in the number of complaints of 
internet fraud received by the Internet Fraud Complaints Centre in 
the United States, according to the centre's annual report just 
released for 2002.

And dollar losses climbed enormously, from $US17 million ($28 
million) in 2001 to $US54 million last year.

Although most complaints - 92.9 per cent - came from within the 
United States, followed by Canada with 2.5 per cent, Australia with 
0.6 per cent  was ahead of Great Britain (0.4 per cent), Germany (0.3 
per cent) and Japan (0.2 per cent).
...
The centre reported a rise in the number of complaints received, from 
16,838 for seven months of 2000 to 49,957 in 2001 and 75,063 last 
year, though it qualified this by saying the figures might represent 
greater awareness of the reporting  centre rather then increased 
victimisation.
...

[1.  0.6% of 75,063 complaints = c. 450.

[2.  All figures appear to relate to complaints received, but also 
appear to be reported as though they were factual and representative.

[3.  Should we make some complaints about fraudulent reporting of 
Internet fraud?  If we did, they'd add them into next years figures, 
so would we be knowingly compounding the felony?

[4.  Yes, I agree that analyses of things like this are very 
difficult.  I just don't like seeing unrepresentative data submitted 
by aggrieved parties presented as though it was factual.

[The site at http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/cf1.asp contains the wonderful 
statements that "The confidentiality of the information you provide 
may be affected by differing state law.  As such, we cannot guarantee 
that your complaint will remain confidential.  ...  And check here to 
indicate that you understand these statements".

-- 
Roger Clarke              http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                 Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au            http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program, University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Baker Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre, U.N.S.W
Visiting Fellow in Computer Science, Australian National University