UK Cyber Crime Unit Conducts Massive Cyber Raid

The Intel Hub
By Kim M
December 31, 2011

Thank God they’re keeping us safe from cyber boogeymen who might try to… (gasp)… sell us something.

Yes, The Guardian reports that UK cyber detectives have shut down approximately 2,000 websites — some of which were set up to sell goods in relation to the 2012 Olympics to be held in London — and they are quietly keeping a private eye on “hundreds of others.”

“Detectives from the UK’s leading cyber crime unit have identified hundreds of websites that could be used to dupe visitors to next year’s London Olympics… Some are using the event’s signature image of five Olympic rings, which could lead people to believe they have official endorsement. ‘We think there is some evidence to suggest they are waiting to commit fraud,’ Janet Williams, the deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan police, said.” [emphasis added]

The role of police has traditionally been to apprehend criminals after they’ve committed crimes, but here we have a unit tasked with apprehending so-called criminals who might commit crime (which is frighteningly similar to Minority Report’s concept of “precrime,” dontcha think?)

Oh, but Guardian writer, Nick Hopkins, goes on to assure us that UK cyber sleuths are also hot on the trail of many other terrifying things which might happen, such as: ticket fraud, website “denial of service” attacks, a vague reference to a “[possible] attack on the transport system,” and so much more.

Why, they even foiled a dastardly attempt by some rascals who (allegedly) tried to stop Clarence House from streaming the latest royal wedding. (Shocking.)

Apparently the cyber crimewave is so large (“huge,” says Hopkins) that they’ve had to drastically expand their units:

“[The e-crime unit] is setting up three satellite hubs covering the north-west, Yorkshire and Humberside and the east Midlands, and estimates that in six months this year its virtual taskforce prevented crimes that would have otherwise cost £140m.” [emphasis added]

Gotta love it. Did you catch that last? The UK geniuses are setting up a virtual police force to catch virtual criminals who may, or may not, have committed virtual crimes which may, or may not, have saved the UK people virtual millions…

These people can’t be serious? We’re supposed to just believe that they’re not hyperinflating (virtual) threats in order to save their (virtual) jobs?

OMG. RO(virtual)FLM(virtual)BO.

SOURCES:

WEBSITES TARGETING OLYMPICS VISITORS CLOSED DOWN BY POLICE

http://www.guardian.c…

THE OLYMPIC SPORT OF INTERNET POLICING…

http://www.melonfarme…

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