Before the internet popularized the way people communicate, con artists could only misrepresent certain aspects of themselves. Now, with the anonymity of the web, they can get away with much more.
The FBI recently warned internet users about the potential dangers of meeting people through social networks. "Regardless of the social networking site, users continue to be fooled online by persons claiming to be somebody else," San Diego Gay & Lesbian News quotes Gordon Snow, the FBI’s assistant director, as saying.
There are two types of cybercriminals computer users must be aware of: con artists and predators. Con artists use the web to convince unsuspecting victims to give them account information. Predators, on the other hand, misrepresent themselves to prey on underage social network users.
Combating internet threats is one reason I formed my company, Intelius. Last year, we released the DateCheck application for mobile phones that enables users to run background checks on people they meet through social networks. This enables young lovers to feel safer when they meet people through social media sites, such as Facebook, or online dating services.
