Cybercrime: online fraud and identity theft: IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer

As more aspects of daily life move online, from banking and shopping to healthcare, criminals have followed. Cybercrime now affects millions of people every year and causes significant harm. However, a combination of better technology, stronger laws and greater public awareness could reduce it.

For individuals, the consequences can be devastating. Victims of online fraud may lose their entire savings after clicking on a fake link or sharing a password with someone pretending to be from their bank. Identity theft can be even more damaging, as criminals use stolen personal data to take out loans or commit crimes in the victim's name, and it may take years to repair a person's credit record. Beyond the financial loss, many victims feel anxious and ashamed, and older people in particular may lose confidence in using the internet at all.

Society also suffers. Businesses spend huge sums protecting their systems and recovering from attacks, costs which are eventually passed on to customers. Attacks on public institutions can be particularly dangerous: in 2016, hackers stole 81 million dollars from Bangladesh Bank's account in New York, and in 2017 a ransomware attack disrupted hospitals across Britain's National Health Service.

Tackling cybercrime requires action at several levels. Governments should invest in specialist police units and require companies to meet strict cybersecurity standards, including reporting data breaches promptly. Because hackers often operate from abroad, international cooperation in sharing intelligence and extraditing criminals is essential. If banks and technology firms used two-factor authentication and automatically flagged unusual transactions, fraud would also become much harder. Finally, public campaigns should teach people basic precautions, such as using strong passwords and never sharing verification codes.

In conclusion, cybercrime causes serious financial and psychological harm to individuals and threatens important institutions. In my view, it can only be controlled effectively if governments, businesses and ordinary users all take responsibility for online security.