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Cybercrime committed 'every 10 seconds' in Britain

Sep 6, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — A cybercrime is committed every 10 seconds in Britain, criminals abusing the anonymity of the online world to carry out offences from unwanted sexual approaches to online fraud, according to a study published Thursday.

The UK Cybercrime report, commissioned by online criminology firm 1871 Ltd, suggested that more than three million offences were committed online last year.

Stefan Fafinski - the author of the report - said: "Although measuring cybercrime is difficult, it is clear that in many instances it is outstripping 'traditional' crime.

"This is a result of unparalleled opportunities that the Internet gives both for making familiar crimes easier and enabling 'pure' cybercrimes that could not exist without the Internet."

Online security firm Garlik compiled the figures and found that individuals and not organisations were the intended target of more than 60 percent of the online offences.

Topping the list of offences was online harassment which include abusive e-mails and offensive allegations posted on websites and chatrooms.

There were 850,000 instances of sex crimes - where individuals were 'cyberstalked' or received unwanted sexual approaches and paedophiles grooming underage children for sex.

Garlik also found that there were 207,000 financial frauds committed last year - up more than 30 percent on a similar study in 2005 and eclipsing outstripping the 199,800 offline frauds.

There were 92,000 cases of identity theft and 144,500 cases of hacking into another PC.

Experts also warned that not enough is being done to tackle the problem, seriously denting Britain's aspirations to be a world IT leader.

"If it remains unchecked it (the number of crimes) will continue to increase," said Fafinski.