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."