HK cybercrime cases grow 70% in 2013

Computerworld Hong Kong staff
25 Apr 2014
00:00

The number of reported cases of cybercrime in Hong Kong grew 70% in 2013 to reach 5,133, as compared to only 3,015 in 2012, according to the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF).

Losses involved in these cases have also skyrocketed by 170% to reach HK$916.9 million ($118.3 million), said Louis Lau, detective senior inspector, commercial crime bureau, technology crime division, HKPF.

At the 8th Annual Counter eCrime Operations Summit (CeCOS VIII), an event for first responder and forensic professionals, Lau shared the cybercrime situations locally and the enforcement strategy at the HKPF.

He attributed the increase in cybercrime to the rising number of email scams, e-banking fraud and ransomware. These cases all fall under the category of accessing computers with dishonest intent. Lau said other cybercrime categories that the division handles include online-game related and e-commerce fraud.


“The major contributor to the loss among the reported cybercrime cases is email scam, as each case could involve as much as a million dollars,” said Lau.

The number of reported email scam cases has doubled in 2013 to reach 1,153. But the percentage of local companies involved in these cases has been declining, from 37% in 2011 to 28% in 2013. He attributed the rising awareness among local business users and the effectiveness of their education programs.

Other prominent cases are e-banking fraud through Man-in-the-browser (MITB). Attackers infect the web browser and modify the e-banking transactions, diverting funds transfer from the victims’ bank accounts towards the attackers. Lau said most of the victims’ machines were infected by malware, which lead to the MITB attack.

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