What is Online Scams

The adoption of new technologies presents a risk that inexperienced users may become immersed in a virtual world of cyber-crime featuring fraud, scams, and deceit. In addition to the societal benefits of social interaction technologies (SIT), the adoption of social software tools brings a range of security issues. The chapter highlights the “darker” side of SIT in which online safety and interpersonal trust become tangible commodities and where fraudsters prey on unsuspecting netizens; it demonstrates that an assortment of technological tools and psychological practices may be used to gain the confidence and trust of unsuspecting consumers. The author argues that consumer education can be successfully utilized to enhance the ability of Internet users to detect and avoid fraudulent interactions and safely enjoy the many benefits afforded by the emerging social interaction technologies.