FBI sets up cyber-crime unit

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will today announce its plans to create a specialised cyber-crime unit.

The unit - to be known as the Internet Fraud Council (IFC) - will track, investigate and intervene in cyber-crimes ranging from stock fraud to credit card theft. A consumer complaint centre will also be launched to investigate claims of online fraud.

Currently, the FBI does not have a specific mechanism to track Internet crime, so it is hoped the IFC will be able to tackle the growing concerns about fraud.

Former UK Conservative MP Keith Hampson said the move was long overdue. "The Americans need to take the initiative," he said, noting that there is no European equivalent to the FBI's council. "People want to have confidence in ecommerce. There is existing fraud and money-laundering on the Internet, but there is huge scope for more."

Hampson said the UK's policy on Internet fraud is still unsettled: "The Department of Trade and Industry is trying to promote ecommerce and doesn't want restrictions. But the Home Office is thinking law and order. They're being ruthless; they want to read what's in everyone's computers to see if they're cheating."

The IFC will be run in conjunction with research group, the White Collar Crime Center, and the National Fraud Center, a consulting firm. It is scheduled to go live this summer.