Controlling Fraud on the Internet: A CAPA Perspective

• NCJ Number: 193382
• Author(s): Russell G. Smith; Gregor Urbas
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 155 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Austrialian Institute of Criminology Research and Public Policy Series No. 39. A report for the Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants.

Annotation

This document provides an assessment of the problem of Internet fraud in a selection of Asia-Pacific countries.

Abstract

The goals were to describe the nature and extent of Internet-related fraud as it affects business and government electronic commerce. Internet fraud was defined as any act of dishonesty or deception carried out through the use of the Internet, or directed at the technologies that support the Internet. Publicly available documentary sources of information were examined and analyzed. Although the expansion of the infrastructure that supports the Internet is variable across the countries examined, results showed that the Asia-Pacific region will have the largest number of users of the Internet of all regions globally in the near future. There is wide variation in the number of telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers (ISPs), and Internet hosts in the countries examined. Although fixed-line services will continue to expand, the use of mobile communications and satellite connections is likely to take on greater importance in the region than elsewhere. It appears that many businesses and government agencies are using the Internet for commercial activities at present throughout the region, although few actually conduct financial transactions online. It has been estimated that one quarter of all business purchases within the Asia-Pacific region will be made online by 2003. Many government agencies throughout the region are beginning to make use of electronic service delivery, although regionally most still use the Internet for the provision of information. It is inevitable that countries in the Asia-Pacific region will be affected by Internet fraud. Internet fraud is infrequently reported to authorities for investigation. The principal sources of information concerning Internet fraud are business victimization surveys and anecdotal accounts of successful criminal prosecutions that are reported publicly. Estimates indicate that between 5 and 10 percent of online transactions may involve fraud. 11 figures, 9 tables, references, appendix