Morristown Cyber Crime Victim Attorney

Protecting the Rights of Those Who Have Been Victimized on the Internet

As individuals and businesses continue to increase their usage of computers and the internet to store data, communicate with others, manage their finances, and conduct daily operations, the prevalence of cyber crimes continues to rise as well. When you have been the victim of a cyber crime, you need to take prompt action to protect yourself and your data from further harm.

The Law Office of Joseph S. Scura is a New Jersey law firm fighting for the rights of those who have been victimized by internet crimes. Whether you have been hacked, bullied, stalked, defrauded, or otherwise harmed online, our Morristown cyber civil litigation attorney can help you take action to recover your losses and hold the perpetrator accountable for their actions. We will thoroughly investigate your case, accurately calculate all your past and future losses, and fight for your right to restitution with whatever it takes to help secure the verdict you deserve.

Are you a victim of a cyber crime? We are available 24/7 to assist you. Call (973) 832-0841 or contact us online today!

What is Cyber Crime?

Cyber crime (also written as “cybercrime”) is the term used for illegal activity that uses a computer, the internet, or computing technology to perpetuate a criminal action. Under New Jersey state law, defined by New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 2C:20-23, a person is guilty of a cyber crime if they “purposely or knowingly and without authorization, or in excess of authorization, access any data, data base, computer storage medium, computer program, computer software, computer equipment, computer, computer system or computer network.”

What is an Example of a Cyber Crime?

Examples of cyber crimes people and companies can be affected by include:

• Child solicitation and abuse
• Cyberbullying
• Cyberstalking and online harassment
• Data and IP theft
• Hacking
• Identity theft
• Internet fraud
• Phishing scams
• Ransomware, viruses, and other cyber attacks
• Revenge porn

Cyber crime has become a serious issue in the United States and incidences continue to increase annually. In 2019, ransomware attacks (a type of malware that denies access to an organization’s computer system) more than doubled from the previous year—a U.S. organization fell victim to ransomware attacks every 14 seconds, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). That same year, 3.2 million identity theft and fraud reports were received by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Of all 50 states, New Jersey ranked 11 for nationwide identity theft claims in 2019.

When Can I Take Legal Action for Cyber Crimes?

If you have suffered compensable losses, financial or otherwise, due to an online attack you (the plaintiff) may be able to take legal action against the perpetrator (the defendant). For example, if money was stolen from your bank account you can sue to recover the funds lost. If your reputation was hurt due to doxxing (when private information is published online with malicious intent) or you came to fear for your safety because of online harassment, you can seek restitution for such actions as well.

Plaintiffs tend to bring claims based on one of the following:

• Tort: A wrongful act or an infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability, such as cyberstalking or defamation
• Contract: A wrongful act that goes against the terms defined in a contract, such as breach of contract
• Statutory violations: A wrongful act that goes against a legal statute, such as the New Jersey Revised Statutes

What Damages are Available in a Civil Cyber Crime Claim?

Whether you have had money stolen or not, damages are typically rewarded in the form of financial compensation regardless of the crime.

The plaintiff may seek a variety of remedies for the cyber attack, including:

• Compensatory damages
• Contractual or liquidated damages
• Punitive damages
• Statutory damages
• Injunctive relief
• Interest
• Reasonable attorney fees and costs

If you have decided to take legal action, your case is going to require as much evidence proving an attack as possible to help build a strong claim that will hold up against the other side’s defense.

To best protect yourself from future harm and accurately calculate the damages you are owed as the victim of a cyber crime, do as much of the following as possible:

• Collect and keep copies of any related evidence, including receipts, screenshots or hard copies of messages and emails, bills, canceled checks, files, and other relevant documentation
• Change the passwords for all your online accounts (ideally each password is long, strong, and unique to each account)
• Update your security software to protect yourself from viruses and other attacks
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or replying to messages requesting your personal information
• Set your social media accounts to private
• Contact the New Jersey Cyber Crimes Unit (CCU) to report the incident
• Get in touch with a local cyber crime lawyer to determine whether you have a case

How an Experienced Cyber Crime Attorney Can Help

Cyber crimes can wreak havoc in victims’ lives in many ways. At the very least such a breach of privacy can lead to inconvenience and annoyance; at worst, cyber crimes can cause financial ruin or even threaten a victim’s reputation and/or safety. No matter the effects, our Morristown cyber crime victim lawyer at the Law Office of Joseph S. Scura takes these claims very seriously and will work hard to devise an effective strategy to protect your rights and help you obtain compensation.

Learn more about how we can help you hold offenders accountable for cyber crimes by contacting the Law Office of Joseph S. Scura today!