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New hubs to tackle cyber-crime
POLICE are stepping up the fight against online criminals with three new e-crime hubs.
The national crime-cracking centres will focus on tackling cyber-crooks and will work with the Metropolitan Police’s existing e-crime unit.
Assistant Chief Con Andy Ward, chairman of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “Cyber-crime is not restricted by boundaries and its effects are far reaching.
“By working together, joining expertise and resources, we are dedicated to gathering and sharing intelligence to ultimately find those responsible for these crimes and bring them to justice.”
Last year Wigan watchdogs warned residents to be on their guard after online fraudsters launched a spate of computer scams in a bid to access personal financial information.
Bogus internet companies were contacting web-users and “phishing” for confidential details, either by posing as genuine banks or by claiming to be from Microsoft technical support.
As part of the scam, crooks cold-called folk at home offering “free security checks” before tricking victims into allowing remote access to their machines or into downloading dodgy software programmes.
Julie Middlehurst, Wigan Council’s chief trading standards officer, urged all computer users to be on their guard against the hackers and cold-calling tricksters.
She said: “Criminals are clever people, and cyber criminals in particular are finding increasingly sophisticated ways of getting hold of your money.
“Our advice is simple - do not take at face value any unsolicited approaches, regardless of whether they come in the form of phone calls, e-mails or visitors to your front door.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
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rockcottage
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:28 PMIts bobbies in the streets we want. The police are totally conspicuous with their absence in Wigan. Drive past Wigan cop shop anytime of the day and count the cop cars parked up. They don't move for ages.
jupiter
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:37 PMI recognise there is a problem with cyber crime but I too would prefer any funding to be spent on putting more police on the streets before things get out of hand. It is no use putting in an 'additional presence' after the event. We need to have local police in all areas not just those with high crime figures.
longtimehere
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:57 AMMore funds to be spent on "Police" sat in an office playing with a keyboard. The real crimes that affect most of us happen out in the street, that is where the effort should be put in. Anyone stupid enough to fall for one of these scams need to get out more!!
Traindriver
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 07:51 PMTown Hall denies a witch hunt : Seeing that there are no comments for this story, I'll just say this. The children on the council appear to be falling out with each other yet again. Is it any wonder the country is in such a state when we have little children in positions of power?
cowboy
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 04:09 PMive got £10 million in a bank in panama city, do you want a sub
busdriver
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 04:00 PMi got a e mail from the right honourable david cameron asking me to send money to nigeria. his spelling and grammar was appalling .
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