The problem of
hi-tech crime against businesses across Wales is being
targeted by police.
Internet crime, including virus attacks, hacking into
computer systems, credit card fraud and theft of company
data, is a growing problem. Police
held a series of workshops starting on Tuesday so businesses
could voice their concerns.
Some 83% of UK businesses
reported hi-tech or electronic crime during the past year,
according to the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit. But Detective
Superintendent Chris Corcoran from North Wales Police
said they did not know how big the problem was in Wales.
"It's a problem UK wide but we don't
know about the problem in Wales," he said.
"I don't think it's a major problem
but we're trying to be one step ahead."
There have been some high-profile
examples of internet crime in Wales. In October, a 17-year-old
youth from Pontypool in south Wales appeared in court
after offering £45,000 worth of non-existent goods
for sale on the auction site eBay. In
December 2002 a 22-year-old computer hacker from Llandudno
in north Wales admitted he had infected up to 27,000 PCs
across the world with a computer virus.
To try to head off such
crimes in the future, a partnership has now been launched
which includes all Welsh police forces, the National Hi-Tech
Crime Unit and the Welsh Development Agency.
To help learn more about
the problem a series of workshops will be held across
Wales to speak to large and small business groups.The
findings will form the agenda for E-Crime Congress Wales
- the first conference in Wales on hi-tech crime.
It will be held on 8 February 2005 in
Cardiff.
"Hi-tech crime is the illegal exploitation
of computer technologies like the internet, whether to
attack the new technology itself or in order to support
so-called old crimes such as fraud, identity theft and
embezzlement," said Mr Corcoran.
Sharing information
"The workshops are important to crystallise
the concerns of organisations in Wales.
"In the battle against hi-tech crime
everyone has a responsibility to be alert, know how to
protect their technology and report incidents to the relevant
authorities.
"The workshops are all about how
people get this information about businesses, we still
write passwords on post-it notes and put them on our computers.
"We don't want to tell people what
their concerns are. It's all about sharing information,"
he said.
Bruce Potter, of lawyers' group Morgan
Cole, said the firm recognised the importance of equipping
business against internet crime.
"Our experience is that providing
information about the law and the business threats has
to be combined with practical education for businesses
and their employees," said Mr Potter.
Patrick Sullivan of the Welsh Development
Agency said more Welsh businesses were taking advantage
of the internet and e-commerce.
"However, hi-tech crimes can have
a potentially serious impact and therefore it's essential
that Welsh businesses are fully aware of the threats,"
he said.
