Computer crimes on the rise in Russia, police official says May 17, 2000 Web posted at: 4:22 PM EDT (2022 GMT)

MOSCOW (AP) -- The number of computer-related crimes continues to rise in Russia, with more than 200 cases of hacking reported in the first three months of the year, a news agency quoted a top police official as saying Wednesday.

More computer crimes were recorded in the period from January through March than in all of 1999, said Vitaly Degterev, first deputy chief of the Interior Ministry's department on high-tech crimes, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

In 1998, there were only 80 reported, Degterev said.

Victims are often reluctant to report such crimes, fearing damage to their business reputation, Degeterev was quoted as saying.

The number of crimes reported has risen as more people go on-line and as Russian police step up enforcement efforts, resulting in more cases brought.

Typical computer crimes in Russia include stealing credit card numbers sent to on-line businesses, pirating software, stealing passwords to get free time on-line, and theft of business information.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/05/17/russia.hackers.ap/index.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), May 18, 2000