In the wake of the release of the “Cybercrime 2023″report by the North Rhine-Westphalian State Criminal Police, Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) is calling for improved investigative tools for law enforcement agencies.
“We are on the right path in the police, strengthening online investigators and providing them with good instruments. However, often, internet criminals slip through our fingers because we lack the necessary authorities. We need data retention now”he told the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (Monday edition).
According to the new report, the number of known cybercrimes in North Rhine-Westphalia rose by 12 percent in 2023, reaching nearly 58,000 cases. The damage caused by these crimes almost doubled, to approximately 81 million euros, compared to the previous year. A significant portion of these cybercrimes were classified as “computer fraud”where victims are lured to fake websites through online advertisements and asked to provide sensitive information, such as credit card details.
Herbert Reul expressed his concerns about the growing problem of computer fraud, stating, “Those who try to make a fortune are no longer robbing banks. In the anonymity of the internet, criminals are making a tidy profit. The numbers of cybercrime speak a clear language: criminal activity in the network can hide well under the veil of anonymity. I am particularly worried about the computer fraud numbers. We are making it too easy for these individuals.”
Reul’s advice to the public is to take precautions, such as creating strong passwords, verifying emails and not sharing personal data in online shops.