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Online crime on the rise through broadband internet

Broadband customers are being warned to check their internet security measures as new figures released said cybercrime in the UK rose by more than 9 per cent in 2007.

The reports from online identity firm Garlik states that over 3.5 million online crimes were committed in the UK last year, many through broadband connections.

According to the report the majority of broadband internet crimes were related to fraud and abusive or threatening emails. Online identity theft dropped by 8 per cent.

The sharpest rise of broadband crime was in online financial fraud, which rose 20 per cent from the previous year. Tom Ilube of Garlik says the report shows online criminals are becoming more professional, exchanging personal and credit information online through broadband internet. Galik said that the information black market had doubled over the past year and that 19,000 traders had been identified as operating through broadband internet.

"It's critical in this time of financial crisis that individuals are vigilant with their personal information, because as long as the credit crunch continues, we can expect to see a real growth in online financial fraud," he said.

While over 63 per cent of cyber crime comes from the United States, the United Kingdom has is the source of 15 per cent of broadband and dial up related crimes. Nigeria accounts for 5.7 per cent of online broadband crime.

Andrew Goodwill, from fraud prevention specialists The 3rd Man, said cybercrime was growing at a tremendous rate. “Cybercrime costs the country hundreds of millions every year," he said.

20/10/2008
Author: CompareBroadbandUK staff writer

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