U.S. cyber crime loss spiked in �09 to $560 M

Here�s an ugly trend.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation�s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has reported that complaints of cyber crime losses in the U.S. more than doubled from $265 million in 2008 to $560 million in 2009.

The increase was much higher than previous year-over-year figures. The Center�s web site carried the following annual numbers:

The IC3 annual report said that the group received 336,655 complaints in 2009, an increase of 22.3 percent increase over 2008.

Types of complaints included:
-- Thieves pretending to represent the FBI: 16 per cent
-- Non-delivery of merchandise: 11.9 per cent
-- advanced fee fraud scams (also called 419 scams): 9.8 per cent

IC3 said 146,663 complaints were referred to local, state or federal agencies
-- non-delivery of merchandise or payments:19.9 per cent
-- identity theft: 14.1 per cent
-- credit card fraud: 10.4 per cent
-- auction fraud: 10.3 per cent
-- computer fraud or hacking: 7.9 per cent.

IC3 report here.

News story in Register here.

Tom Kelchner