Criminals have used the pandemic to target the most vulnerable

"Europol": "Corona" is contributing to the increase in cybercrime

An officer from "Europol" while investigating a file.

Archives

The European Police Agency (Europol) announced that the "Covid-19" pandemic has contributed to an increase in cybercrime across Europe, especially with regard to child pornography and Internet fraud.

"Europol" stated in a statement that "criminals have swiftly exploited the pandemic to target the most vulnerable", in an environment in which the stone has prompted users to resort to the Internet "at an unprecedented level."

The Hague-based agency, which publishes an annual report on cybercrime, noted that online fraud "has become an ideal strategy for cybercriminals seeking to sell products they claim protect against or cure the emerging corona virus."

Europol explained that “phishing” by means of e-mails (or “phishing” in English) constitutes an “effective threat,” as criminals are using more “sophisticated” methods in this field.

Also, at the height of the health crisis, the agency monitored a "significant increase" in material involving sexual exploitation of children on the Internet, and indicated that the publication of such material "has become more popular than it used to be", due to travel restrictions.

The statement quoted the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Elva Johansen, as saying, "The pandemic has slowed many aspects of the usual lives of people, but unfortunately it has increased the pace of criminal activity on the Internet."

She added that "organized crime groups exploit the most vulnerable, such as the new unemployed, or bankrupt companies, or worse than all children."

And she stressed the need for the European Union to intensify its efforts "urgently" to combat cybercrime.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news