Cybercrime is no longer a localized activity. In fact, cybercrimes take place across the globe, which makes it immensely difficult for judicial processes and law enforcement teams to combat the menace. Geopolitical barriers, along with cultural and lingual differences, further add to the woes.
This is where steps in INTERPOL or the International Criminal Police Organization. 7th September 2023 marked the 100th anniversary of INTERPOL, making it highly relevant to combat the advanced technical challenges of today’s time.
The Synergia operation by INTERPOL has recently grabbed the attention of the public by taking down multiple cyber fraud organizations across Africa and the Middle East. Another notable INTERPOL operation was the Operation Storm Makers II Campaign, which ruffled a lot of feathers by busting cyberfraud-backed human trafficking organizations.
Last month, at the RSA Conference USA 2024, Craig Jones, the director of cybercrime at INTERPOL, shed light on how INTERPOL managed cyber fraud at a global scale.
Takeaways From RSA Conference 2024
Image sourced from kiteworks.com
Have a look at what he shared!
Cyberfraud is Actually One of the Topmost Priorities at INTERPOL
INTERPOL considers cyber fraud as one of its top priorities. As much as it is focused on organized crime, terrorism, and financial corruption, INTERPOL is equally dedicated to carb global cybercrime issues.
The Global Cyber Program by INTERPOL has 3 Major Components
INTERPOL follows the mission of “Reducing the global impact of cybercrime and protecting communities for a safer world.” They work closely to investigate cybercrime activities, gather relevant evidence, and disrupt cyber fraud.
INTERPOL has three major departments, namely,
- Cyber Crime Threat Response: This department collects important data and intel from private sector firms and law enforcement departments worldwide.
- The Cyber Strategy and Capabilities Development: This is responsible for managing outreach and training.
- Cybercrime Operations: The department takes care of law enforcement coordination and is also responsible for destroying infrastructures that are compromised and potentially a threat to the world.
INTERPOL Works Across 196 Countries to Prevent Cyber Fraud
INTERPOL has no political orientation of its own. Having said that, it operates across 196 different nations with their complete support. The countries are viewed as an upright pyramid whereby the top 40-50 nations are highly equipped to combat cyber crimes. Below them, in the middle strata, is a group of nations that have a “reasonable capability and capacity” to combat cyber fraud and threat actors.
Lastly, at the bottom are the nations that have zero to minimal capabilities and resources to fight against cybercrimes.
INTERPOL has different strategies for each of these levels of nations.
INTERPOL Gets Adequate Assistance From the Regional Desks to Combat the Cyber Menace
INTERPOL operates through regional help desks across Asia, Africa, South Pacific, Europe, and America. The regional desks make it easy for INTERPOL and its assets to penetrate deep into the country and work at the grassroots level to nip cybercrime in the bud.
Cybercrime has proliferated around the world and requires global attention. And that’s exactly why the world needs INTERPOL to step in and act strategically to prevent further exploitation by threat actors, including implementing robust phishing protection measures. This proactive approach is essential for maintaining global security.