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BRUSSELS: Criminals and individuals have immediately taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to find new ways to make money, the European Union’s law enforcement agency said April 30, citing an increase in counterfeiting and cybercrime.
In a report on April 30 analyzing how the pandemic will shape organized crime in the European Union, Europol said that much of the crime related to the deadly virus reflects the flexibility of criminal organizations, a trend that has already been observed during previous financial crises.
But this time, the impact became apparent much more quickly, with a sharp increase in cybercrime in the first few weeks of the virus’s spread.
“New and adapted attacks appeared almost immediately since the start of the crisis and have been among the most visible types of crime,” Europol said. “In part, this is due to our reliance on digital and online solutions during shutdown to work remotely and maintain contacts with colleagues, friends and family.”
After an initial increase in cybercrime, the agency said it witnessed a decline toward the end of April.
The initial cyber attacks were fairly simple, but Europol noted that criminals devised more complex schemes when the pandemic reached Europe. They have also changed the way they operate.
“For example, cybercriminals shortened the period between initial ransomware infection and activation of the ransomware attack, not waiting for the ideal time to launch the attack, but trying as soon as possible to maximize profits,” the agency said.
While the impact of Covid-19 on the level of terrorist threat to the European Union in 27 countries has so far been limited, Europol said it is concerned about the rise of online child pornography and “the conversations of potential criminals in around the increased accessibility and vulnerability of children online due to isolation, less supervision and increased online exposure. “
Another palpable trend has been the multiplication of scams promoting test kits and treatments for the deadly virus that has killed more than 200,000 people worldwide, the agency said. Europol also saw a boom in the trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals and healthcare, such as face masks, antivirals, or alcohol-based gels, as criminal organizations took advantage of the shortage of genuine products.
“New variations of these Covid-19 related scams appear every day. However, it is expected that once the current pandemic subsides, the number of such scams will decrease over time,” Europol said.
In the long term, the agency expects a return to previous levels of crime with classic illegal activities as blocking measures are progressively reduced.
“However, it is likely that the pandemic has created new opportunities for criminal activities that will be exploited beyond the end of the current crisis,” he said. “Organized crime is highly adaptable and has demonstrated the ability to extract long-term gains from crises, such as the end of the cold war or the global economy of 2007 and 2008.” – AP
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