Online scams up in 2011, FBI says

So you really think you’re the 10,000th website visitor and you’re going to get $10,000 for it?

Or you’re getting a $1 overstock deal on the iPad 2?

What about that $1,000 gift card?

Internet scams were up in 2011, but not as high as 2009, according to an FBI report.

The federal Internet Crime Complaint Center recently released its year-end figures for 2011, which tallied 314,246 complaints and 115,903 cases where there was an actual loss.

Those cases resulted in a $485.3 million total loss, or an average of $4,187 for each case.

Overall complaints were up 3.4 percent from the 303,809 complaints in 2010, but less than the record 336,665 complaints from 2009.

And to think, just 50,416 cases were reported in 2001, which is less than one-sixth of last year’s crime.

The center has a list of tips and examples of scams, but in general, it’s best to delete any spam email without opening it first and doing your research before any transaction.

Plea in shaken-baby case:

A 24-year-old Aurora man faces four to 15 years in prison after admitting he injured his then 4-month-old twin son in October 2008.

Michael E. Baumgartner, of the 1200 block of Indian Trail Road, entered a plea last week to the charge of attempted aggravated battery of a child.

He initially was charged with aggravated battery to a child, a felony that carries six to 30 years in prison if convicted, with no chance for probation, but the state dropped that allegation in exchange for the guilty plea.

Baumgartner was set to have a bench trial before Judge Allen Anderson last week. Instead, Anderson on July 20 will decide Baumgartner’s sentence, which includes the possibility of probation.

Assistant Kane County State’s Attorney Debra Bree said Baumgartner was playing video games and became angry with the crying from one of his sons.

The baby was injured on Oct. 13, 2008, and doctors at the time said the infant, who will turn 4 this week, had brain bleeding and retinal hemorrhaging.

Bree told Anderson that if the case went to trial, the state would have several doctors testify the infant suffered “nonaccidental trauma.” She also said Baumgartner admitted to authorities that he injured the baby.

“He stated he became frustrated with the baby’s crying,” Bree said.

Defense attorney Bruce Self did not return a phone message seeking comment.