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Organized crime in the net is increasing

For many crimes, all it takes is a laptop. Criminality in the Internet is surging, registered by Europol's police department. And criminals use the latest technologies.

,   and  Ksenia Johnson
2 min read
Criminals take advantage of the naivety of some people on the internet, writes Europol in a report
Criminals take advantage of the naivety of some people on the internet, writes Europol in a report

Fraud and Misuse - Organized crime in the net is increasing

Cyberattacks, sexual exploitation of children, and financial fraud are the most dangerous crimes on the Internet in the European Union according to an analysis by the European Police Office (Europol) in The Hague. Millions of women and men in the EU are daily victims of organized online crime, the analysis reveals. Fraud and the number of young offenders are on the rise, according to Europol experts.

The report states that cyber criminals are increasingly targeting small and medium-sized enterprises. Their digital protection measures are less effective. Many people are also victims of Phishing attacks, Romance Scams (Dating or Love Fraud), or are defrauded by webshops. Concerningly, Europol reports an increase in the sexual exploitation of children online.

Europol: Criminals use artificial intelligence

Alarmingly, there is also a rise in the use of artificial intelligence. "Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a tool for criminals," the report states. So, there are increasingly sophisticated extortion methods.

Bands sell templates on the Internet for fraud, sexual exploitation, or Phishing emails. Scripts for dialogues with minors help sexual offenders "refine their grooming techniques".

Moreover, so-called Deepfakes – deceptive forgeries of images and sound – are reportedly widely used. For instance, voices are copied for shock calls to relatives or friends to extort money or bank access codes. AI is used to create videos or images of child sexual abuse.

  1. Despite the alarming rise in the use of artificial intelligence by criminals, as revealed in Europol's report, love betrayals through Romance Scams or Dating Fraud remain a significant concern in the EU.
  2. The European Police Office's analysis also highlights the misuse of Cyberattacks as a means to commit fraud, often targeting small and medium-sized enterprises with less robust digital protection measures.
  3. The Betrayal of trust and the financial consequences of such cyberattacks and online fraud within the EU contribute to a sense of mistrust and loss of confidence in the digital sphere, potentially leading to more widespread disengagement from online activities.
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