Geneva, 24 September 1998 – ICC Commercial Crime Services, the London-based crime detection and prevention arm of the International Chamber of Commerce, today announced that it is setting up a special unit to combat cybercrime.

Announcing the move at a news conference, CCS Executive Director Eric Ellen said it responded to widespread demand by companies concerned at the new capabilities that advances in communications technology are placing in the hands of criminals.

Mr Ellen said: "The new unit – like other CCS services – will base its operations on the maxim ‘Prevention is better than cure’. It will be a prime source of information, research and intelligence, provide training and issue warnings about criminal methods and scams."

The Cybercrime Unit will part of Commercial Crime Bureau and work with the International Maritime Bureau and Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau, the other divisions of Commercial Crime Services.

There is a lack of accurate information about the extent of cybercrime and no consistent reporting of attacks. The difficulty of investigating Internet crime and bringing perpetrators to justice is compounded by insufficient specialist police resources.

Mr Ellen noted: "The information we do have suggests that the incidence of cybercrime will grow, at least in line with the increase in the number of new Internet sites and users. Its big attraction for the criminal is that it can be committed anonymously and far from the victim. Losses can be significant."

Definitions of cybercrime differ. At a meeting of interior ad justice ministers of the Group of Eight leading industrial nations last year, five main areas of cybercrime were identified: paedophilia and sexual exploitation, drug trafficking, money laundering, electronic fraud and political espionage.

The CCS Executive Director said: "Example of frauds over the Internet are depressingly familiar to those of us who constantly come up against the paper variety – and also depend on the gullibility of victims." They include non-delivery of items purchased, charges for supposedly free services, pyramid sales s and get-rich quick investment schemes."