Internet Fraud: Crimes & Prevention

Lawhelp.org/NY - 080038

Abstract Number: 080038

May 2008

The LawHelp.org/NY website launched a new topic area "Internet Fraud: Crimes and Prevention," covering a wide range of Internet fraud and crimes.  The new topic area on LawHelp.org/NY, also accessible via www.GetNetSmart.org, is devoted to increasing awareness and helping Internet users prevent and report all types of Internet fraud and crime. According to a recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report, Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data, in 2007 consumers reported paying more than $525 million to Internet criminals.  The public is often not aware of the resources available online and in their communities for reporting and preventing Internet crime.  The new topic area on LawHelp.org/NY is a unique portal to more than 500 such resources in 24 substantive subtopics, including "Email Scams, Hoaxes & Spam," "Phishing and Pharming" and "Reporting Internet Fraud & Crimes."  The resources -- from law enforcement agencies, not-for-profit online safety groups and government agencies -- were chosen for their usefulness and accuracy and reviewed by a team of experts. 

Resources on the site include:  tips on avoiding identity theft via email scams and online hoaxes; protecting online privacy in chat rooms and on social networking sites and helping victims recognize and report online crimes and cases of fraud.  The site includes local and federal law information; all written for the lay person, so visitors can recognize and report Internet crimes promptly to authorities. 

The site includes resources in English and Spanish, and a growing number of resources are available in other languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Urdu, and Vietnamese. For more information on this project, see http://www.news.probono.net/e_article001002301.cfm?x=b11,0,w.

Contact Information
Leah Margulies
 Project Director
 LawHelp.org/NY
 City Bar Justice Center
 42 West 44th St.
 New York, NY 10036
 212 382-4712
 lmargulies@nycbar.org

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