January 21, 2010

Ordinarily, a natural disaster such as the one that’s left Haiti in ruins would trigger a flood of complaints from consumers claiming they’d been targeted by scammers appealing for online donations.  But the number of complaints so far has been relatively low.  Historically speaking, cyber thieves have wasted little time launching spam email campaigns that appeal to our hearts but leave our identities torn and battered.  It happened shortly after 9-11 and again in the aftermath of the great tsunami that devastated parts of the Indian sub-continent.

Perhaps the trigger has already been pulled but consumers recognize the bogus appeals for what they are and are choosing to ignore them.  After all, consumers in significant numbers have educated themselves about the dangers of cyber space and are no longer as vulnerable to online shenanigans as they once were. 

But, cyber thieves haven’t been sitting idly by while consumers stockpiled anti-virus programs and other security software.  No, they’ve been watching very carefully and adjusting their plans accordingly.  While it’s true they like to strike immediately following a disaster, perhaps this time, they’re waiting for a distraction to help them jettison the appearance of predictability.

Whatever the case may be, the Internet continues to be a “target rich environment” for criminals.  Despite efforts to increase public awareness of online fraud, a recent study found that nearly one-fifth of the population is apparently predisposed to victimization.  It’s vital we get to them before the next tsunami of fraudulent appeals leaves thousands drowning in its wake.