Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody Tuesday announced the Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit to combat illicit online activity in Florida.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, more than 42,000 Floridians lost a combined total of more than $844 million to cybercrime last year.
The Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit is a team of criminal and civil attorneys in the Florida Attorney General’s Office who work with Florida Department of Law Enforcement analysts and other law enforcement agencies to solve cybercrimes that federal authorities may overlook due to the size of the case.
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Moody said, “As online crime increases, the enforcement gap continues to grow as federal agencies often focus attention on cases involving multimillion-dollar losses. Noticing this gap in enforcement, I worked with legislative leaders and our law enforcement partners to build a team of expert attorneys to help fill that void and protect Floridians from emerging high-tech schemes.”
“FDLE’s cyber fraud team will help keep Florida citizens safe by investigating and stopping these pervasive crimes. Our analysts are on the frontlines researching cybercrime and criminal organizations, identifying the players, learning how these crimes work and who is being victimized. These behind the scenes heroes are an important resource, not only for FDLE, but also for our law enforcement partners,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass.
According to Moody’s office, the Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit is already working with FDLE and law enforcement on cybercrime investigations across the state.
Last week, the unit and FDLE announced the shutdown of a complex criminal enterprise that used the dark web and cryptocurrency to commit massive identity theft and launder more than $350,000. If convicted, the ringleader in the case could potentially face up to 135 years in prison.
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Other cases handled by the Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit include:
- Kevin Anderson—Anderson fraudulently purchased more than $150,000 worth of items using credit cards created with the personal information of 20 victims residing in Florida and internationally. Anderson pleaded guilty and is sentenced to more than five years in prison, followed by 10 years’ probation to pay restitution.
- Cathy Green—Green used privileged access to an employer’s computer systems to adjust personal pay to include fraudulent overtime payouts of more than $107,000. Green also used a company’s Amazon account to illicitly purchase more than $41,000 of items. Green is sentenced to 15 years’ probation and ordered to pay more than $109,000 in restitution.
- Cynthia Sirmans—Sirmans, a former live-in caretaker, charged more than $47,000 to an elderly client’s credit card during a four-month period. Sirmans is sentenced to 16 months in prison for elderly exploitation.
- Maninder Sigh Bawa—Bawa stole thousands of dollars from more than a dozen senior victims in a tech-support scam. Bawa targeted the victims by sending pop-up computer notifications claiming the victims’ devices were locked, prompting the seniors to call the number listed for service, where he tricked the victims into sending thousands of dollars in fees as payment. This case is still pending and Bawa is facing charges of money laundering and organized scheme to defraud.
Victims of cybercrime should immediately:
- Secure devices by changing all passwords;
- Preserve evidence by taking screenshots;
- Report the crime to FDLE’s Computer Crime Center;
- If the crime involved unauthorized access to financial accounts, notify the bank and credit card company—monitor accounts to check for identity theft;
- Freeze credit; and
- Update antivirus, firewall and security software.
Cybercrime has been on the rise for many years, and the trend is only expected to continue. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this increase, including:
- The increasing reliance on technology in our personal and professional lives.
- The growing sophistication of cybercriminals.
- The lack of adequate cybersecurity measures in many organizations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also played a role in the increase in cybercrime. The shift to remote work has created new vulnerabilities for businesses, and cybercriminals have been quick to exploit them.
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the global cost of cybercrime is expected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025. This is a staggering figure, and it highlights the need for businesses and individuals to take cybersecurity seriously.
Here are some of the most common types of cybercrime:
- Malware attacks: This is the most common type of cybercrime. Malware is software that is designed to harm a computer system. It can be spread through email attachments, infected websites, or other means.
- Phishing attacks: Phishing is a type of social engineering attack that is designed to trick the victim into revealing personal or financial information. Phishing emails often appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks or credit card companies.
- Ransomware attacks: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the victim’s files and demands a ransom payment in order to decrypt them. Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common in recent years.
- Data breaches: A data breach is an incident in which sensitive data is compromised. This can happen through a variety of means, such as a hacking attack, a data leak, or a human error.
There are a number of things that businesses and individuals can do to protect themselves from cybercrime. These include:
- Keeping software up to date: Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect against known vulnerabilities.
- Using strong passwords: Passwords should be long, complex, and unique. They should also be changed regularly.
- Being careful about what information you share online: Don’t share personal or financial information on social media or other online platforms.
- Being aware of phishing attacks: Phishing emails often contain links or attachments that can infect your computer with malware. Be careful about clicking on links or opening attachments in emails that you don’t recognize.
- Backing up your data: Backing up your data regularly can help to protect you in case of a data breach.
Cybercrime is a serious threat, but there are steps that you can take to protect yourself. By following the tips above, you can help to keep your computer and your data safe.
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