ABSTRACT
This chapter explores specific forms of telecommunications-related illegality, a brief overview of telecommunications technology and its applications are appropriate. It provides estimates of the financial losses suffered by the victims of telecommunications crime. The chapter examines the various forms of illegality involving telecommunications systems and services as instruments and/or as targets. One of the more significant aspects of telecommunications-related crime is its global reach. Criminal activities committed from across the globe, however, pose even greater problems. The use of the term "Digital Age" recognises that these developments are having profound effects on contemporary society. The digital networks are provided by three carriers and about twenty companies sell mobile telephone services on these networks. Digital mobile telephones convert all signals and numbers into a digital data stream for transmission. Messages may also be digitally signed by someone who uses his or her private key to encrypt a set of characters.
