July 18, 2024

IPv4 Address Fraud: How to Detect and Prevent Scams

Like everything that has become a scarce resource, IPv4 addresses are subjected to fraud. And as much as we do like this, these scams have taken on many forms, posing a threat to online safety and financial security—not a good thing, we’d argue. In this guide, we explore various types of IPv4 address fraud, how to detect them, and the best practices to prevent them. So, let’s get down to business!

IPv4 Addresses Limitations

Basically, IPv4 addresses are numerical labels assigned to devices that are connected to the internet. The available pool has become limited, perhaps making these addresses gradually scarce. This scarcity creates a market for fraudsters who exploit the loopholes to manipulate them for malicious purposes.

Deep Dive into IPv4 Address Fraud

IPv4 address fraud involves any illicit activity aimed at obtaining or misusing IPv4 addresses, and fraudsters get creative when it comes to them. Here’s how they can exploit IP addresses:

IP Hijacking

See? Even IPs get hijacked! This is an elaborate yet crude act. It simply means some entity is taking control of an IP address block it does not own or have legitimate rights to. This can happen for a number of reasons, possibly due to vulnerabilities in the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) used for routing data on the internet.

IP Spoofing

This happens when an attacker mimics a legitimate IP address to gain full access to accounts. Imagine a hacker spoofing the IP address of, say, a bank server to appear as a trusted source and hijacking the login credentials.

IP Squatting

This involves holding onto IPv4 addresses without using them for any legitimate purpose; rather, they will be used to sell at higher prices in the future—an illegitimate investment, if you will. This worsens the shortage of IPv4 addresses.

Unauthorized IP Selling

Some scammers obtain IP address blocks by illegitimate means and sell or rent them to unsuspecting buyers. Very often, such transactions are not recognized by official Internet registries, which exposes the buyer to legal and operational traps.

Proxy Services and VPNs

These tools allow users to masquerade their real IP address, making it appear that they are somewhere they’re not. While there could be valid reasons for using such tools, very often this anonymity is the perfect cover for scam activities.

IP Reputation Blacklisting

This one is a little twisted: an IP address can be blacklisted because of some fraudulent activity associated with it. So, what do fraudsters do? They acquire such blacklisted addresses to bypass security measures on other platforms.

Detecting IPv4 Address Fraud

Now that you’ve learned about all the ways IP addresses can be scammed, it’s about time you learned how to detect these scams. Here’s how:

Monitoring BGP Announcements

Monitoring tools for BGP, such as BGPMon or RIPE NCC RIS, assist in the detection of suspicious activities in BGP announcements. Suspicious activities can include unusual changes in IP routing, such as the announcement of a new IP block by an unexpected autonomous system (AS). What does this mean? IP hijacking—we’re afraid.

Whois Database Checks

Whois searches of the IP address blocks can reveal listed, registered owners, and contact information. Inconsistencies in Whois records, compared to the entity claiming ownership of the IP block, may indicate fraud.

Historical Data Analysis

The legitimacy of an IP address block can be checked through its usage history. This information can be acquired through the WHOIS history service provided by ARIN or through services like IPinfo’s historical data service, which tracks changes in ownership and usage patterns.

Reverse DNS Lookups

Reverse DNS lookups can confirm that an IP address has been in use for legitimate purposes. Not having reverse DNS or having suspicious entries are clear indications of abuse or fraud.

IPv4 Address Fraud Impact

The consequences of IPv4 address fraud can be pretty serious. They include:

• Financial fraud that includes account takeovers, unauthorized transactions, and credit card scams.

• Identity theft that happens due to stealing personal information linked to an IP address.

Preventing IPv4 Address Fraud

You know what they say: “Prevention is better than cure.” Here’s what you can do to safeguard yourself when it comes to IPv4 address fraud:

• Implement Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) that is designed to secure the internet’s routing infrastructure. It makes sure that only authorized entities can announce IP addresses.
  
• Use route filters to reject unauthorized BGP announcements and reduce the risk of IP hijacking.
• Do some regular IP address resource audits to identify any discrepancies or unauthorized usage. These audits include reviewing Whois records, BGP announcements, and reverse DNS records.
  
• Secure your network infrastructure by implementing access controls, monitoring network traffic, and regularly updating software to patch vulnerabilities.
  
• Engage with regional internet registries (RIRs), such as ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC. This helps ensure the legitimacy of IP address transactions.
  
•  Avoid sensitive activities like online banking on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
  
•  Keep yourself updated on the latest online security threats and scams.

The Future of IP Security

Here’s the thing: IP address fraud is going to get worse because of their increasing scarcity. However, at least some hope is held out for a more secure future with the development of the next-generation IPv6 protocol with an enormously expanded address space. The evolution of fraud detection and prevention technologies goes on incessantly to fend off such evolving threats.

That’s all, tech savvies! IPv4 address fraud poses significant challenges to the internet’s integrity and functionality. However, remember that in this revolutionizing digital world, one has to be vigilant at all times.

If you want to buy, sell, or lease an IP address, IPv4Mall is your trusted partner for the job!

FAQs

What is IP address fraud?

IP address fraud involves using a deceptive IP address to impersonate someone else or hide your location while committing online crimes. Criminals might steal real IPs or use proxy servers to mask their identity.

Can a scammer get your IP address?

Scammers can get your IP address through various means, like phishing emails or malware you unknowingly download.

What is a suspicious IP address?

A suspicious IP address might be linked to past fraudulent activity or originate from a location known for suspicious online behavior. Some services check IP reputation to identify these.