Down economy means more cyber-scams

LOS ANGELES - Internet-based schemes centered on stealing personal data and financial scams are on the rise, thanks to thieves looking to take advantage of the fear and confusion surrounding the current tough economic times.

According to USA Today , the scams were already on the rise last fall as the worldwide financial crisis became evident.

Now, Panda Security , an Internet security firm, is reporting that the number of malicious programs circulating on the Internet has tripled to more than 31,000 a day.

"The criminal economy is closely interrelated with our own economy," Ryan Sherstobitoff, chief corporate evangelist at Panda, told USA Today. "Criminal organizations closely watch market performance and adapt as needed to ensure maximum profit."

There usually are tell tale warning signs to help you avoid these scams. The SEC says to be wary of online investment newsletters touting stocks, online bulletin boards with numerous threads, and suspicious-looking emails. The National Consumer League also offers many tips on avoiding online data scams.