150 arrested as US clamps down on cybercrime

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday reported that more than 150 individuals have been arrested as a result of a nationwide campaign directed at major forms of online economic fraud and other cyber-crimes.

The ongoing action, known as Operation Web Snare, targets online economic crimes including identity theft, fraud, counterfeit software, computer intrusions, and other intellectual property crimes.

"The cases involved show the extent to which alleged online criminal activity increasingly is not only multi-jurisdictional but involves the blending of traditional crimes with various forms of computer crime, such as computer intrusion and malicious computer programs," the DoJ stated.

Attorney general John Ashcroft said that he has directed the various Justice Department offices "to make full use of the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act", signed into law by President Bush last month.

The Act prescribes stiff prison terms for those who use identity theft to commit other crimes.

"Operation Web Snare also shows that America's justice community is seeking to anticipate, out-think and adapt to new trends in internet crime," said Ashcroft.

"This effort shows how effective law enforcement can be against online crime when all levels of government - domestically and internationally - work together."

More than 160 investigations have been opened as part of Web Snare. Investigators have identified more than 150,000 victims with estimated losses of over $215m.

Search and seizure warrants executed as part of the operation exceeded 140, and prosecutors have obtained 117 criminal complaints, informations and indictments to date. The charges have led to more than 150 arrests or convictions.

The operation involved co-ordination between 36 US attorneys' offices nationwide, the Criminal Division of the DoJ, 37 of the FBI's 56 field divisions, 13 of the Postal Inspection Service's 18 field divisions, and the Federal Trade Commission, together with a variety of other federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies.

"As today's action shows, collaboration between the DoJ, law enforcement representatives and private industry can help stop cyber-criminals who are employing increasingly sophisticated and destructive tactics," commented Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel for Microsoft, in a statement.