Capitol News

In East Lansing, Michigan, the spotlight on preventing and responding to cybercrime is intensifying as the cost of cybercrime nears $10 trillion annually. In response, experts from Michigan State University's School of Criminal Justice are offering insights into prevalent scams and protective strategies.

Rachel McNealey, an assistant professor at the university and a center associate with the MSU Center for Cybercrime Investigation and Training, highlights the prevalence of "smishing," which involves deceptive mobile text messages. McNealey points out that "many of these texts are convincing because they mimic legitimate package notifications." She emphasizes the need for awareness, explaining, "The best way to protect against this type of scam is to understand how organizations like the U.S. Postal Service communicate with their customers."

Romance fraud is another area of concern, as noted by Tom Holt, a professor and director of the newly formed MSU Center for Cybercrime Investigation and Training. Holt explains, "Fraudsters often pretend to be in the military or claim to have remote jobs to maintain distance." The financial impact is considerable, with U.S. victims reporting combined losses of $1.3 billion in 2023.

Taylor Fisher, a post-doctoral research associate at the university, cautions against tax return scams. She points to "quick money advertisements" and urges individuals to recognize red flags such as demands for large fees or fake URLs. Fisher stresses the importance of early filing to avoid being pressured by fraudsters leveraging tight deadlines.

Karen Holt, an assistant professor at the university, discusses sextortion offenses, describing them as a form of online blackmail. Holt advises victims not to comply with demands and to report incidents to law enforcement. "Sextortion can result in significant harm and trauma for victims," Holt states, encouraging victims to "collect and save all digital evidence" and "block the perpetrator from all apps."

Experts at Michigan State University remain available to further educate the public about cybercrime and prevention methods, emphasizing the importance of informed vigilance in safeguarding personal information.