The number of online fraud rose 33% last year due to worsening of the economic crisis that is severely affecting the U.S.

One example of fraud is called “work-at-home scams” which consist in emails that promise to work at home. Victims act as “mules”.

In time of crisis, the unemployment is high and many people is seeking financial assistance on the Internet. But people must be alert to online scams. In the United States, the FBI released a warning about the increase of cases (without revealing numbers) of so-called “work-at-home scams.” Meaning e-mails that arrive with the promise of easy work at home, with good dividends.

According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, FBI sector that takes care of virtual crimes, they offers large sums to people, among other things, receive and transfer money, deposit checks or receive goods (both stolen) and send to others ( criminals). Often these goals are not clearly illegal, which leads many to believe and participate in the illegal scheme as a “mule.”

In addition to committing crimes, who often participates in the initiative also have their personal data stolen by bandits, who use the information to hire credit cards and make online shopping, among other things.

Via: Ottawacitizen.