DATE=4-10-98
TYPE=SPECIAL ENGLISH FEATURE
NUMBER=7-19637
TITLE=SPECIAL ENGLISH AMERICAN MOSAIC #660-COMPUTER CRIME
BYLINE=PAUL THOMPSON
TELEPHONE=619-2585
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=SHELLEY GOLLUST
CONTENT=
HOST:
A COMPUTER LINKED TO THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM CALLED THE INTERNET
IS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE TOOL. IT ALSO IS FUN. IT CAN BE USED
FOR EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND PLEASURE. BUT, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS.
________________ HAS MORE.
ANNCR:
GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE BECOMING CONCERNED ABOUT
COMPUTER CRIME. MOST COMPUTER CRIME INVOLVES STEALING MONEY.
COMPUTER CRIME EXPERTS SAY PEOPLE WHO USE THE INTERNET SHOULD BE
CAREFUL OF ELECTRONIC MAIL THAT OFFERS A DEAL THAT SEEMS
UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. FOR EXAMPLE, MESSAGES THAT ASK YOU TO INVEST
WITH A BANK THAT OFFERS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN RETURN. THESE
COMPANIES MAY NOT REALLY BE BANKS. YOU SHOULD ASK BANKING
OFFICIALS IN YOUR COUNTRY ABOUT ANY SUCH COMPANY BEFORE YOU
INVEST YOUR MONEY.
EXPERTS SAY COMPUTER USERS ALSO SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF COMPUTER
MAIL YOU DID NOT REQUEST. AND THEY WARN AGAINST BUYING SOMETHING
FROM A PRIVATE PERSON. YOU HAVE NO PROTECTION IF THE PRODUCT
DOES NOT WORK. EXPERTS SAY YOU SHOULD PAY FOR ANY PRODUCTS YOU
BUY ON THE INTERNET WITH A CREDIT CARD. YOU CAN STOP PAYMENT ON
A CREDIT CARD. YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS PROTECTION IF YOU PAY WITH
MONEY OR A BANK CHECK.
EXPERTS WARN TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT GIVING FINANCIAL
INFORMATION TO ANYONE YOU DO NOT KNOW. SOME OF THIS INFORMATION
CAN BE USED TO BUY THINGS IN YOUR NAME OR TO TAKE MONEY THAT
BELONGS TO YOU. AND THEY SAY YOU SHOULD NOT CALL ANY TELEPHONE
NUMBER BEGINNING WITH EIGHT-OH-NINE AFTER RECEIVING A MESSAGE
ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET. IT IS A WAY TO CHARGE YOU A LOT OF
MONEY FOR AN UNNECESSARY TELEPHONE CALL.
RECENTLY, EIGHT COUNTRIES AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT
COMPUTER CRIME. THEY ARE BRITAIN, CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY,
ITALY, JAPAN, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES. THEY ALSO ARE
WORKING TO MAKE SURE LEGAL ACTION CAN BE BROUGHT AGAINST PEOPLE
WHO COMMIT COMPUTER CRIMES WHEREVER THEY LIVE.
AN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AGENCY, THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, CAN
TELL YOU MORE ABOUT COMPUTER CRIME AND RECENT LEGAL ACTION. THE
AGENCY'S COMPUTER ADDRESS IS W-W-W DOT F-T-C DOT G-O-V. AGAIN,
THAT ADDRESS IS W-W-W DOT F-T-C DOT G-O-V.
09-Apr-98 2:38 PM EDT (1838 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
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