BizJournals Portfolio
Apr 03 2008 12:00am EDT

Cybercrime Jumps 20 Percent, F.B.I. Says

There is something rotten on the internet. And it's getting worse.

Web bandits are ripping off the public at record numbers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported today.

In 2007, internet crime led to $240 million in reported losses, a $40 million increase from 2006, according to the 2007 Internet Crime Report, conducted by the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Also on Portfolio.com:
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Cybercrime Ring Busted

A jury has convicted the 18-year-old leader of an international cybercrime ring.

"The Internet presents a wealth of opportunity for would-be criminals to prey on unsuspecting victims, and this report shows how extensive these types of crime have become," said F.B.I. Cyber Division Assistant Director James E. Finch. "What this report does not show is how often this type of activity goes unreported."

Because not all internet crime is reported to the F.B.I., the total losses on the Web could be significantly higher than $240 million.

The report found that most of the online crime involved auction fraud, but also cited credit card fraud, as well as "computer intrusions" and other "non-fraudulent activity."

by Sam Gustin


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