E-Crime going ahead un-disturbed…

Small firms across the country are continuing to fall prey to the ever-growing issues surrounding electronic crime as a survey commissioned by the Federation of Small Businesses showed how small firms were losing £800 a year through the crime.

The Federation is insisting that more attention must be given to cyber crime and online fraud as often the cases go un-reported, but in such difficult economic times the FSB is urging small firms to stand against the crime.

According to the FSB’s survey, a staggering 54 per cent of small businesses claimed that they had been attacked by the online crime in some way over the last year.

Phishing emails are the biggest worry…

Phishing emails were one of the biggest problems, affecting 37 per cent of those affected by online crime.  15 per cent of small firms fell prey to credit card scams such as fraudulent Internet transactions.  Furthermore, 15 per cent suffered at the fate of viruses and hackers.

What is making the issues even worse is the fact that most of these crimes are continuing to affect firms as the incidents are not being reported.

The FSB’s survey discovered that a huge amount of the small firms questioned in the survey, 85 per cent of the firms, throughout England and Scotland, claimed that they felt that they would report the crimes to an organisation if one was set up to specifically focus on the issue.

Costing small firms between £500 and £5,000.

The figures are no surprise as the Federation are claiming that the e-crime is costing small firms around the country an average of £768 a year and losses have been recorded to be between £500 and $5,000.

The Federation is therefore requesting that an organisation is set up to tackle the issue, with the powers to investigate and to prosecute if necessary.  They are also claiming that the organisation is well advertised and easily accessible so the issues can be quashed before they become out of control.

The FSB are also claiming that it is necessary for a local police contact who would specialise in fighting the electronic online crime with respect to small firms and banks.

The situation could get out of hand.

Mike Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses has claimed that the issues of online crime could be set to just get worse over the coming year.

“It is important that the Police Central e-Crime Unit and the National Fraud Reporting Centre work hand in hand to set up an effective system to gather intelligence and use it to investigate and prosecute when this crime occurs. Businesses are currently simply being left very exposed,” said Cherry.

Got any advice for others?

Have you found that you have had to be extra vigilant over the recent months and is the whole situation making you particularly edgy, or do you feel that the whole issue is being blown out of proportion.

Maybe you can pass on some advice if you have had your fingers burnt in the past – let us know about your experiences with e-crime.

Bookmark Us
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • TwitThis

Our Random Articles

More Links