'High-tech crime: The new dangers' by Roy Ramm

[3rd April 2008]

We've all embraced internet shopping, plastic money and online banking quickly and readily. However, we're fast recognising that with these digital conveniences also lies the ‘cyber-criminal'.

Roy Ramm, former Commander of Specialist Operations at New Scotland Yard, asks why high-tech crime is so prevalent, despite the equally high-tech measures in place to prevent it?

High-tech crime is an evolved type of fraud and has been dubbed a ‘white collar crime' – crimes typically committed by wealthy professionals working in high-powered positions. Fraud is often associated with lone criminals who wouldn't commit a ‘hands-on crime', like stealing from a shop, robbing a bank or being violent. For these ‘hands-off criminals', fraud, and now high–tech crime, doesn't engender the immediate fear of arrest or remorse that an act of violence might. The cyber-criminal doesn't see a victim's distress or experience the shame associated with a crime committed in public. What's more, they know that victims of fraud and cyber-crime are often embarrassed that they have been a victim. They might not report the crime committed against them anyway.

Nowadays, the reality of high-tech crime is different and it's mostly not a solitary, ‘geeky' pastime. High-tech crime is now usually committed by serious and well-organised international criminals, attacking innocent people in sophisticated ways. The latest figures from APACS (the UK Payments Association) back this up.

According to APACS, between 2001 and 2006, the total value of online shopping transactions alone increased by 358% (rising from £6.6billion in 2001 to £30.2billion in 2006). But managing our money and buying more online make us and our money increasingly anonymous. Furthermore, the internet provides a limitless distance between criminals and us. With that in mind, there are seemingly limitless opportunities for cyber-criminals to strike. There are tens of millions of financial transactions a day between millions of people and businesses. Not surprisingly then, card-not-present fraud (transactions that we don't do in person, i.e. online) rose by 122% in 2006, compared with 2001.

Large distances and the cross-border nature of crime has meant that despite effective measures like Chip-and-Pin, which has been adopted in the UK but not in some other countries, there has been a 77% increase in fraud committed overseas by criminals using stolen UK card details. That's £90.5million UK citizens have lost abroad in five years. The majority of these crimes have happened in those countries which are yet to upgrade to Chip-and-Pin. Fraud abroad now accounts for over one third (39%) of total card fraud losses.

Whether it is the simple theft of credit cards, identity theft, or the manipulation of the money markets, high-tech crime is now a real world problem that both governments and multi-national financial institutions need to face head–on, or risk losing public confidence.

For law enforcement agencies dealing in tackling high-tech crime, understanding e-commerce literacy is an essential forensic tool. However, information will always remain the currency of the detective and Crimestoppers is the best bank in town - deposit safely and receive guaranteed interest!

by Roy A C Ramm Former
Commander Specialist Operations New Scotland Yard

If you know any information about high-tech crime, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or fill out our anonymous and secure online Giving Information Form.