The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "cyber fraud" ...
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Cybercrime, Inc.; Meth addicts' other habit: Online theft; Cyber safecrackers break into online accounts with ease; This little fob could foil a cyber bank robber; Net crooks con Americans into web of crime; Unprotected PCs can be hijacked in minutes; The rise of zombie computers -- Are hackers using your PC to spew spam and steal?; Tech industry has no unified defense system
These USA Today reporters set out to delineate the underlying economic drivers of cyber crime. On Sept. 8, 2004, Achohido and Swartz were the first to comprehensively describe how cyber crooks systematically took control of millions of home computers, turning them into zombies to carry out various fraud schemes. An accompanying cover story took big tech suppliers to task for placing an unfair burden on consumers for keeping the Internet safe. A November 30 story reported the results of a honey pot test -- designed and overseen by the reporters -- showing how simply connecting a new PC to the Internet triggers nonstop break-in attempts by intruders. They also outlined what readers can and should do to protect themselves. These findings were only the beginning of their investigation.
Tags: cyber fraud; Internet; online
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Hacker Hunters
The authors investigated a battle of wits between the U.S. secret service and a cyber-crime gang known as the ShadowCrew. The story covers a rare victory by law enforcement to shut down a web-based crime outfit. It gave a face to the ShadowCrew, a network of over 4,000 people run by a part time college student and gave a reminder to internet users to be wary of doing business on the Web.
Tags: Internet; cyber-crime; web-based crime outfit; ShadowCrew; the U.S. Secret Service; e-business; Internet security
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Dove of oneness: Snared by a cybercult queen
This investigation exposed a grifter who solicits donations on the Internet to help spread the word about what she claims is a secret law that abolishes income taxes, forgives mortgages, zeroes out credit cards and declares peace. Although she has not broken the law, she moves frequently, hides behind cyber-pseudonyms and forwards her mail to post office boxes. She proclaims her interest as only promoting world peace but has links to an investment scam that robbed thousands of people out of millions of dollars and ultimately landed its creator behind bars.
Tags: cult; scam; NESARA; National Economic Stabilization and Recovery Act; Omega project; cyber fraud; Internet
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Cyberstalking
CBS news looks at the fast growing Internet crimes, cyberstalking in particular, and examines the legal challenges involved in prosecuting them. The report "profiles freelance writer Jayne Hitchcock, a victim of cyberstalkers," who describes how she has been harassed with "nasty e-mail messages and threats" for years. The story explores why "law enforcement was reluctant to take her complaints seriously," and sheds light on "the frustrations the justice system deals with in prosecuting cyber-crimes."
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; crime; harassment; on-line; identity theft; social security number; FBI; courts; mail fraud
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The Web's Dark Side
A team of U.S. News and World Reports reporters and photographers traveled across the nation during the week of June 25 to get "a better sense of the problems of the Internet... What they found is sobering." This investigative report outlines cases of cyberstalking, cyberscams, adoption fraud, online credit card theft, trademark disputes and addicitions to online pornography.
Tags: cyberstalking; cyberscams; adoption fraud; online credit card theft; trademark disputes and addicitions to online pornography; Internet; Web; child solicitation; cyber pedophiles