David Lerner Associates: Cyber Thieves Target Men More than Women
A new report from the Economic and Cyber Crime Prevention Centre of The City of London Police claims that men are ripped off three times as much as women.
The report reveals who is getting targeted, where they live, and how they’re getting conned. It covers crimes reported between November 2014 and October 2015. That comprises over 15,000 victims of cybercrime and fraud.
The crimes were focused mainly on individuals (85%) as opposed to businesses (15%). And while crimes were mainly aimed at both genders between 40-49 years old, the picture changes when relating to fraud, which targeted ages 60-69.
Women aren’t losing as much money as men, but they’re prone to be ‘pickpocketed’ when they go shopping online. They’re six times more likely to be targeted by online shopping and auction fraud than men.
The report also shows that about 50% of victims (regardless of gender) have been victims in the past.
In the U.S., as well as abroad, women have to deal with online stalking and the general misogyny and poor treatment that online anonymity provides for the perpetrators. And it occurs in quantities far greater than men. But it appears that when it comes to finances, as described above, men are worse off in terms of dollar amounts.
There are several tools out there to avoid and prevent cybercrime and fraud. Knowing the tell-tale signs of a scam will also help you stay safe, so education is a key factor.
Always think before you click on a link or file of unknown origin. Don’t feel pressured by any emails. Check the source of the message. When in doubt, verify the source. Even if you receive an email from a known person, and are suspect of the contents, it’s far easier to call them and ask “Did you send this to me?” to find out whether or not their email was hacked. Never reply to emails that ask you to verify your information or confirm your user ID or password.
There are many things you can do to stay safe from the digital bad guys. Using strong passwords, secure your computer, installing the latest operating system updates, protecting your data with encryption or passwords, and securing your wireless network are just a few things that can be done.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be used in connection with the evaluation of any investments offered by David Lerner Associates, Inc. This material does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered in connection with the purchase or sale of securities.
To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.
Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.
These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable– we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
David Lerner Associates does not provide tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances. Member FINRA & SIPC