Table of ContentsComputer FraudCauses of Computer FraudTypes of Computer FraudCredit Card FraudPhishingIdentity TheftFinancial Identity TheftMedical Identity TheftCriminal Identity TheftConclusionIn Today's World Today, due to the advancement of technology, the number of computer-related problems has increased. Especially when it comes to misuse of computers and such devices. Some people use computers to deceive others in various ways, such as system hacking, email hoaxes, sales and investment fraud, hacking, identity theft, ransomware, and online scams . Anyone using a computer with an Internet connection is a potential candidate for a victim of computer fraud. The rate of computer fraud is increasing every day as internet usage around the world increases, as the number of people use their computers and the internet in the right way, but some intentionally use computers to bring down organizations, businesses and to obtain personal information about people. Furthermore, with the implementation of current legal regulations, criminals began to be tracked down and punished under the Computer Misuse Act of 1990. This act was planned after the case Regina v Gold and Schifreen from 1987, in which two individual hackers remotely accessed BT's Prestel service at a trade show using the credentials of a BT engineer. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayComputer FraudUltimately, computer fraud is defined as taking control to become illegal or stealing information from the Unbeknownst to others, computer fraud can occur in any form; it incorporates fraud committed by a representative of an organization using the computer to steal funds or information from the organization, although a few individuals resort to deception to gain access to individual resources. Therefore, the type and method used to commit computer fraud differs from one individual to another depending on the need to do so. Causes of Computer Fraud The main cause of computer fraud is to make money or steal information from large organizations for example or to steal funds. Few individuals don't care about money or information but simply want to bring down the organization or person so they can reveal their secrets, and some do it for fun. Types of Computer Fraud Computer fraud can be classified into a number of types which depend on the fraud committed but the main fraud categorizations mentioned below. Computer fraud and crimes occurring today fall into the following categories: Internet Auction and Auction Fraud Phishing Credit Card Fraud Email Hoax Letter Scam Adware Information Hacking Money Theft identity Investment schemes Virus and worm attack. These types of computer frauds that I mentioned are due to the advancement of technology, and crime continues to increase around the world. There are a number of ways in which we can prevent computer fraud, apart from legal regulations, by being attentive to scams circulating on the Internet in order to protect the system and stored informationin the system. The three forms of computer fraud I'm going to talk about are credit card fraud, phishing, and identity theft. Credit Card Fraud Credit card fraud is any type of theft or fraud involving a credit card. The main goal of credit card fraud is to purchase goods without paying for them or to steal money from someone else's credit account. When it comes to credit card fraud, these are types that can be divided into different types of card fraud into four areas: Lost and stolen cards used without the owner's permission. Card details such as card number, cardholder name. , date of birth and address are most often stolen from online databases or through fraudulent emails, then sold and used on the Internet and by mobile phone. Skimmed credit cards, meaning a card has been cloned or copied using a special swipe machine to create a duplicate of the credit card. Making fraudulent applications using someone else's name for a new credit card without the person's knowledge. When a credit card fraud crime has occurred, normally the fraud victim will not be responsible for unauthorized payments on the card. during fraud, as they are covered by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This means that the victim can claim back the money they lost due to the crime of fraud. There are also circumstances which mean the victim will not get all the money back, for example if you behave negligently by not paying enough attention to the security of your card and its details or where the bank might say that you were negligent and would not do it. refund the money to the victim, for example if more than 13 months have passed since the fraudulent activity took place on the card or if you have acted fraudulently, pretending that a payment was not yours when whether it actually was or whether the bank can provide that the person authorized the transaction. In the UK, credit card fraud carries a maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment or a fine, or both, but maximum sentences are usually reserved for the most serious cases . PhishingPhishing is a cybercrime in which a target or targets are contacted via email, telephone or SMS by a person posing as a real institution to trick individuals into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, details banking and credit card information and passwords. The information is then used to access people's important accounts and can lead to identity theft or financial loss. There are five common types of phishing attacks: Email phishing Harpoon phishing Whale Smishing and vishing Line phishing UK law is gradually adapting to combat phishing and other forms of cybercrime. Upcoming changes to the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (in the Police and Justice Act 2006) aim to bring it up to date with developments in computer crime and increase penalties in case of violation (up to 10 years of imprisonment). At the same time, the Fraud Act 2006 removes uncertainty over whether statutory offenses under the old Fraud Act applied to activities such as phishing and introduces new offenses to better equip police and prosecutors to meet the challenge of fighting fraud in the 21st century. It represses phishing by establishingoffense the fact of making a false declaration, in particular by email or on the Internet, with a view to making a gain for oneself or for others, or to cause a loss to others or to expose others to a risk of loss. The Fraud Act also addresses different aspects of cybercrime, for example by introducing an offense of possessing software or information intended to be used for fraudulent purposes and creating software upon realizing that it is designed or adapted to be used in connection with fraud. Violations of these laws are punishable by fines and/or detention of up to 10 years. Identity theft Identity theft is a specific form of fraud in which cybercriminals steal personal data, including passwords, credit cards, social security, and other sensitive information, for example, usually as a way to obtain financial advantage or obtain credit and other types of advantages using another person's name. In the United Kingdom, identity theft is a criminal offense punishable by up to ten years' imprisonment or a fine, or both. The maximum duration is normally revered for the most serious cases. Identity theft is inevitable these days, and here are many reasons why identity thieves target your personal information. From financial gain to malicious motives, there are a few different types: Financial Identity Theft Financial identity theft is one of the most common types of theft. In most cases, the identity thief attempts to get a credit card, loan, or simply buy things by pretending to be someone else. This can be extremely detrimental to a victim's credit score and ability to obtain a loan in the future. Medical Identity Theft Medical identity theft occurs when an individual uses another person's personally identifiable information to fraudulently obtain medical services, prescription drugs, or medical insurance coverage. This type of identity theft can be very costly and a complicated crime to solve. Criminal Identity Theft Criminal identity theft normally occurs when an individual gives false information to the police at the time of arrest. Sometimes criminals obtain state-issued identification documents by using IDs they have stolen from someone else, or by simply creating a fake ID. If this type of fraud works, criminal charges could be filed against the identity theft victim, and the real criminal could be off the hook. Sometimes the victim may need to track down the police officers who made the initial arrest and prove their own identity. They may also have to attend a court hearing to be cleared of the charges. In the United Kingdom, the penalty for this offense is up to ten years' imprisonment or a fine, or both. Penalties of maximum length for this crime are generally reserved for the most serious cases. ConclusionAfter all the basic discussion on the concepts and causes of computer fraud, we will discuss the legal regulatory issues related to computer fraud which explains how legal guidelines prevent or decrease the increasing rate of computer fraud in today's developing technological world. Most legislative changes are accomplished by amending and extending existing law to adapt it to new circumstances rather than introducing completely new legislation. This can sometimes make it difficult to find an isolated location where an entire legal territory is clearly.