Which of the following is the largest computer crime problem affecting local law enforcement with the largest number of victims?

• A. Internet fraud.
• B. Identity theft.
• C. Phishing scams.
• D. Hacking.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is why the sheer number of victims matters when assessing cybercrime problems for local law enforcement. Internet fraud covers a broad set of scams aimed at everyday online users—things like online shopping fraud, non-delivery of goods, counterfeit goods, romance or investment scams, fake tech support, and more. Because these schemes target the general public across many contexts and platforms, they tend to produce a very large pool of victims, which translates into more cases for local police to handle. In contrast, hacking typically involves breaches of organizations or targeted individuals and, while potentially severe, affects fewer people at a time. Phishing is a common technique used within various frauds and identity theft can be widespread, but the umbrella category of internet fraud captures many distinct scams that collectively bring in the highest number of victims.