Recovering from Internet Fraud Pennsylvania Criminal Defense
Recovering from Internet fraud can be a long process. There often is a substantial financial loss, and some types of fraud may result in serious damage to a victim’s credit rating or standing in the community. If you have been involved in Internet fraud, you should consult an attorney knowledgeable in the area.
Many victims of Internet crime are ashamed to come forward. They feel foolish at having been taken in by a trickster so easily, or for failing to take some relatively simple steps to protect themselves. This is especially true of victims of the Nigerian “4-1-9 scams” or advance-fee scams, that promise a fabulous amount of money with little or no effort. In retrospect, many victims wonder how they could have been fooled by a fraud that, looking back, seems so obvious.
It is important not to feel embarrassed at being taken in by a swindler. No one wants to believe a person is dishonest. When we hear about something that promises easy money, our faith in humanity, coupled with our delight over our “good fortune,” may make us blind to reality, and so we act against our better judgment. Many scams also impress upon us the need to act quickly, so there is no chance for the careful reflection that would lead us to ask questions about the promises we hear.
Many people have been fooled by Internet fraud. Internet fraud artists rely on their victims’ shame in staying one step ahead of the law. The only way these dishonest people will be brought to justice is if their victims overcome their shame and report the crime.
Civil Lawsuits
A civil lawsuit against the perpetrators of Internet fraud is an option many victims consider. While such a lawsuit may be a viable legal option, such cases are, in reality, difficult ones to pursue. Even if the legalities of the situation are clear, simply finding the person who committed the fraud may be difficult, as that person has probably moved since taking advantage of the fraud. The guilty party may not even be in the country. If the party is found, he or she probably will not have any significant assets with which to pay a civil judgment, unless the fraud was committed by a party with substantial assets, like a business with a good deal of cash on hand.
Victims of Internet fraud are often better off cooperating as much as possible with law enforcement. State and federal agencies have the resources to track down individual criminals that others might not have. In addition, once a person is convicted of a criminal offense, he or she is often ordered to pay restitution to his or her victims to compensate for their financial loss.
Recovering Identity
Identity theft is perhaps one of the most common types of Internet crimes. The victim usually suffers more than a considerable financial loss. The victim is put in the uncomfortable position of trying to reconstruct his or her good name in the financial community, and trying to shake off the effects of a the misuse of his or her name and credit.
Victims of identity theft should take the following steps even if they have not yet been directly victimized (for example, if a wallet or purse containing credit cards or sensitive personal information has been stolen).
- Notify the police.
- Close any accounts that may have been tampered with, or that were opened in your name without your approval.
- Contact one of the three major credit bureaus to report the fraud. This will cause a notice to be sent to your creditors if a new account is opened in your name, or if any of your existing accounts are changed.
- Notify the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft complaints that it shares with law enforcement around the country.
