Computer Fraud: First Hand

I find it ironic that only mere days after discussing the potential dangers of Internet fraud and identity theft in my beloved BUAD749 class that I experienced these crimes first hand. This was a first for me, but judging by the exponential growth of the Internet and the increasingly clever schemes hackers are fabricating, I don't think it will be the last. Our online communities have created a prime environment for sly hackers to manipulate unsuspecting browsers if they are not properly educated about these threats. While the Internet has a vast upside and really has proved beneficial to society on the whole, it really can be a dangerous place as the vital information we exchange is often left vulnerable if the proper precautions aren't taken. There are various software programs that can be used to combat these issues, but it seems the best defense against these criminals is awareness. I received a notice from my actual credit card company (coincidence or not?) telling me that they were missing some of my personal information and that I needed to email a response with my social security number and account number. I immediately knew this was a scam, but the letter was professionally crafted and rather believable. So while the Internet is a very useful tool, it is also a potentially dangerous liability to an inexperienced, uninformed user.