DATE=4-10-98
      TYPE=SPECIAL ENGLISH FEATURE
    NUMBER=7-19637
     TITLE=SPECIAL ENGLISH AMERICAN MOSAIC #660-COMPUTER CRIME
    BYLINE=PAUL THOMPSON
 TELEPHONE=619-2585
  DATELINE=WASHINGTON
    EDITOR=SHELLEY GOLLUST

CONTENT=

HOST:

A COMPUTER LINKED TO THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM CALLED THE INTERNET
IS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE TOOL.  IT ALSO IS FUN.  IT CAN BE USED 
FOR EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND PLEASURE.  BUT, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. 
________________ HAS MORE.

ANNCR:

GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE BECOMING CONCERNED ABOUT 
COMPUTER CRIME.  MOST COMPUTER CRIME INVOLVES STEALING MONEY. 

COMPUTER CRIME EXPERTS SAY PEOPLE WHO USE THE INTERNET SHOULD BE 
CAREFUL OF ELECTRONIC MAIL THAT OFFERS A DEAL THAT SEEMS 
UNBELIEVABLY GOOD.  FOR EXAMPLE, MESSAGES THAT ASK YOU TO INVEST 
WITH A BANK THAT OFFERS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN RETURN. THESE 
COMPANIES MAY NOT REALLY BE BANKS.  YOU SHOULD ASK BANKING 
OFFICIALS IN YOUR COUNTRY ABOUT ANY SUCH COMPANY BEFORE YOU 
INVEST YOUR MONEY. 

EXPERTS SAY COMPUTER USERS ALSO SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF COMPUTER 
MAIL YOU DID NOT REQUEST.  AND THEY WARN AGAINST BUYING SOMETHING
FROM A PRIVATE PERSON.  YOU HAVE NO PROTECTION IF THE PRODUCT 
DOES NOT WORK.  EXPERTS SAY YOU SHOULD PAY FOR ANY PRODUCTS YOU 
BUY ON THE INTERNET WITH A CREDIT CARD.  YOU CAN STOP PAYMENT ON 
A CREDIT CARD.  YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS PROTECTION IF YOU PAY WITH 
MONEY OR A BANK CHECK.  

EXPERTS WARN TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT GIVING FINANCIAL 
INFORMATION TO ANYONE YOU DO NOT KNOW.  SOME OF THIS INFORMATION 
CAN BE USED TO BUY THINGS IN YOUR NAME OR TO TAKE MONEY THAT 
BELONGS TO YOU.  AND THEY SAY YOU SHOULD NOT CALL ANY TELEPHONE 
NUMBER BEGINNING WITH EIGHT-OH-NINE AFTER RECEIVING A MESSAGE 
ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET.  IT IS A WAY TO CHARGE YOU A LOT OF 
MONEY FOR AN UNNECESSARY TELEPHONE CALL.

RECENTLY, EIGHT COUNTRIES AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT 
COMPUTER CRIME.  THEY ARE BRITAIN, CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY, 
ITALY, JAPAN, RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.  THEY ALSO ARE 
WORKING TO MAKE SURE LEGAL ACTION CAN BE BROUGHT AGAINST PEOPLE 
WHO COMMIT COMPUTER CRIMES WHEREVER THEY LIVE. 

AN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AGENCY, THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, CAN 
TELL YOU MORE ABOUT COMPUTER CRIME AND RECENT LEGAL ACTION.  THE 
AGENCY'S COMPUTER ADDRESS IS W-W-W DOT F-T-C DOT G-O-V.  AGAIN, 
THAT ADDRESS IS W-W-W DOT F-T-C DOT G-O-V.

09-Apr-98 2:38 PM EDT (1838 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.