Information Center: Internet Crimes

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Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Crime

Q: Is spam illegal?

A: Some types of spam (unsolicited, typically commercial email) may violate state or federal law. The federal Can-Spam Act (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003) regulates commercial email. It prohibits certain deceptive practices and requires that commercial emails contain a way for recipients to opt-out of receiving emails in the future. Some states also have laws on spam.

Q: If I install filtering software on our home computer, is that enough to protect my kids?

A: While protective software is a start, it is only a first step. Your children can access computers from locations outside the home, and filtering software is not 100 percent effective. Speak with your children about the dangers of the Internet and make sure they know what to do in difficult or dangerous situations.

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Identity Theft

Identity theft happens when a person steals someone else's personal information and uses it to acquire loans, credit cards, automobiles and other items. The thief may even use the victim's identity to secure employment or avoid criminal charges. The information that perpetrators of identity theft seek includes Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, bank account information and credit card information. Over the past decades and with the growth of the Internet, identity theft has become an increasingly visible problem. Law enforcement, prosecutors and legislators have focused numerous resources on combating identity theft.

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Child Pornography

The Internet has become a common means for the distribution of child pornography. Child pornography is illegal virtually everywhere in the world, and numerous law enforcement agencies have made it a priority. This means that cases are investigated and prosecuted aggressively.

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4-1-9 Scams and Advance Fee Fraud

Many people who have email accounts have received a message promising a fabulous sum of money in return for assisting in the transfer of funds out of a country, usually Nigeria. Numerous businesses have also received faxes making similar offers. These proposals are part of a fraudulent scheme called a "4-1-9 scam"; it is named after the section of the Nigerian criminal code dealing with such fraud.

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Solicitation of a Minor on the Internet

Solicitation of minors for sexual purposes on the Internet is an issue that has grown immensely in the past decade. It is a crime that has garnered a great deal of attention; newsmagazine shows highlight "stings" of alleged sexual predators, and the government and advocacy groups widely distribute information to help parents protect their kids. The consequences of a conviction for soliciting a minor on the Internet can be very serious.

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