Are You a Cyber Crime Victim?
I just read this article from BBC called “What makes a cyber criminal?” Cyber crime is seriously on the rise. While it may seem there’s little you can do about, the article actually hints at things you can do.
This is what one Brazilian cyber criminal had to say: “I buy small things - mobile phones, cameras - so that people don’t even know I’ve been using their credit cards.”
The article also says:
Fabio works on the rational principle that only a minority of credit card holders check their statements carefully.
Even if they did, they might think twice before reporting a minor theft to the police. And he also knows it is highly unlikely that the police will have the resources to pursue him.
I happen to be in that minority. When I get bank statements, I check every entry against what I know I have spent. Nothing gets past me. I even refuse to download information from my bank to Quicken because it would make it too easy for me to miss something.
It really surprised me to learn that other people do not do this. I’m married to one. He insists he can track it in his head. Maybe, I know I couldn’t. And, I once had a co-worker who would go online to her bank to know how much money she had. Never once did she track what she actually spent - either through checks or debit cards. Just what cleared the bank. To me, that is living dangerously.
I get really anxious if I don’t get a receipt, too. I keep track of all those pieces of paper. That’s why it irritates me to see the bank card commercials where they want everyone to just swipe their card. No signature, no receipt. I totally disagree with that. As I also disagree with the no signature for charges under $25. Some petty criminal could steal a card and run up a lot of charges, keeping just under the $25 limit.
What about you? Do you track your expenses? Would you notice an extra $25 charge on your account? How about $50? Would you report it?
