Types of Cybercrime, Essay Example

Mike Maguire offered three basic categories of burglars including low-level, mid-range, and high-level. The low-level category of burglars is the most likely to include juveniles. In addition, these crimes are typically committed on the spur of the moment, which indicates that these types of crimes have little to no pre-meditation. As a consequence, it is likely that low-level burglars are more likely to steal inexpensive and smaller items, as they would not have equipment with the carrying capacity to retrieve higher brow items.

According tie Maguire’s definitions, mid-range burglars do not dedicate all of their time to crime and are more likely to alternate between legal means of acquiring funds and involvement in crime to achieve this same purpose. These individuals are likely to use alcohol and drugs, and their involvement in crime may be in part to fund these addictions, although it is also important to consider that they may need this money to support themselves as a consequence of the dysfunctionality related to their addition. The items stolen by these individuals are more likely to be larger than those stolen by low-level burglars, as the primary purpose is to acquire significant enough funds to support oneself, or to acquire drugs and alcohol. The items stolen by these individuals may even include those they are addicted to. Furthermore, the crimes committed by these individuals are typically pre-meditated, although crimes could be committed in the spur of the moment as well.

High-level burglars are the most likely category to earn a significant living from their crimes. These individuals are more likely to be those that rob from banks, since these are crimes that would generate the highest profit. Furthermore, these crimes are almost always pre-meditated. They must be carefully planned to ensure that they will be successful and that authorities can be evaded both prior to, during, and after the crime. Care will also be taken to ensure that evidence cannot be found, or to ensure that it cannot be traced back to them. It is likely that high-level burglars will commit few of these crimes in their lifetime due to the amount of time that is required to plan them.

The FBI investigates two different types of mortgage fraud, including “Fraud for Profit” and “Industry Insider Fraud”. Even though different types of fraud exist, focus exists because these two categories make up the majority of reported fraud cases. When individuals attempt to commit mortgage fraud for profit, they take part in three different activities. This includes the act of revolving equity, falsely inflating the value of the properly, and issuing loans based on fictitious properties. Industry insider fraud involves only acquiring and maintaining ownership of a house under false pretenses. This may involve the borrower giving false information in order to receive a loan, such as exaggerating employment history or income.

Revolving equity is typically utilized by individuals who commit mortgage fraud as a means to quickly gain profit. This may involve property flipping, which includes selling a property immediately after it is purchased for a higher value. This is typically possible due to a false appraisal. Ultimately, however, it can involve any measures necessary to make the equity of the home appear to be less or greater than what it should be in order to gain profit. While the price of a home could change naturally due to modifications, expansions, and market value, it cannot possibly occur so rapidly, which raises flags and triggers FBI investigation.

Falsely inflating the value of a property can be conducted similarly to the revolving equity. To do so, only one appraiser can be used to determine the value of a property, which could help an individual gain a greater profit. Typically, this involves paying the appraiser a greater amount of money for their services. This is illegal on the behalf of both the seller and the appraiser, although it is typically a harder practice to detect depending upon the amount of value that is exaggerated. If this practice is done for a smaller degree of profit, it is possible to remain under the notice of the FBI. However, when it is greatly exaggerated, it is very noticeable and typically addressed by this law enforcement agency.

Issuing loans based on fictitious properties typically involves the purchase of what is known as an “air loan”. An air loan is defined as a loan that is granted without collateral for a property that does not exist. To do so, the criminal must go to great lengths by establishing fictitious accounts. This could include the creation of fictitious properties and borrowers, establishing fake payment accounts, and keeping up escrow custodial accounts. Additional measures that can be taken is for the individual to set up a telephone number for fake agents, employers, and appraisersto ensure that the lender can verify necessary information.

The five categories of cybercrime include financial, piracy, hacking, cyber-terrorism, and online pornography. Financial crimes typically impair the ability of businesses to conduct e-commerce. An example of this type of crime is when an employee for one company is hired by a competitor to internally crash the company’s system, preventing customers from being able to make any purchases. This is detrimental because it impairs the company’s ability to do business, and an intelligent criminal can make it cost the company a lot of time and money to recover their e-commerce status.

Piracy is the act of copying copyrighted material. An example of this is when teenagers copy a song from a CD onto their computer and then share it on the Internet with the mass public for free. This is illegal because this individual was not given permissions to do so by either the recording artist or the company that produced the song. Hacking is gaining unauthorized access to a computer system or network. An example of this is when a Chinese individual hacked Sony on the behalf of North Korea to gain important company passwords and related information. This technique is generally used to steal information for the intention of profit or blackmail.

Cyber-terrorism utilized the other categories of cybercrime, such as hacking, in order to cause individuals to fear something. For example, while North Korea’s crime can be considered to be hacking, it is important consider that it is also considered cyber-terrorism because this information was used to frighten Sony into not releasing their film “The Interview” for political purposes. Online pornography pertains to the distribution of pornography with children. An example of this is when videos with individuals under the age of 18 are released if the children are not properly clothed.

References

B4usurf. (n.d.). Types of Cybercrime. Retrieved from http://www.b4usurf.org/index.php?page=types-of-cybercrime

Tayac R. (n.d.). California Federal Criminal Defense. Retrieved from  http://www.californiafederalcriminaldefense.com/MortgageFraudCrimes.html