E-crimes in e-business and ways to fight e-fraud

Counterfeiting products and selling them on the internet is a violation of the interests of both large companies and small entrepreneurs. Dishonest companies often operate from abroad and steal original product ideas to sell their own versions of the products. This issue has been growing since the pandemic and the e-commerce boom, according to lawyer Faye McConnell. Counterfeit goods are often low-quality and linked to organised crime. Workers producing them may also be forced to work in poor conditions.

Last year, reports of shipping fraud in the US increased more than fourfold compared to 2020, according to data from CargoNet, a cargo theft prevention and recovery network. As digital loading platforms continue to evolve, making online brokerage transactions faster and easier, criminals often operate from abroad and steal large amounts of high-value goods. Recently, a cyber gang intercepted a refrigerated container carrying Danone yoghurts to Florida, redirected it to another unloading point, and demanded a ransom of USD 40,000.

Scientists from the University at Buffalo are leading the fight against deepfake technology, which is increasingly being used for business fraud. They are developing algorithms that automatically identify and disclose deepfake technology. These algorithms have been trained to detect small differences, such as eyes that are not looking in the right direction or a lack of signs of breathing in artificially produced voices. Their research aims to prevent business fraud and safeguard other areas, such as video conferencing, from the misuse of deepfake technology.