The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has uncovered a “staggering” 42 per cent increase in cybercrime in NSW in the three years to June 2022.
Releasing its Trends and Characteristics of Cybercrime in NSW, the Bureau said the research used data from the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s online reporting system – the ReportCyber Application Platform – and focused on five cybercrime categories, cyber-enabled fraud, identity theft, cyber-enabled abuse, online image abuse and device offences.
“While the results show that cybercrime in NSW is on the same increasing trend as it is nationally, the data only provides a partial view of reported cybercrime,” BOCSAR said.
“This is because cyber offences can be reported through various national reporting systems or directly to State police,” it said.
“There are clear benefits in ongoing public reporting of cybercrime trends both at the national level and separately for individual States and Territories, which could be enabled by integrating reporting systems and enhancing police data.”
BOCSAR said that in the three years to June 2022 there were 39,494 reports of cybercrime in NSW alone, with over $404 million reportedly lost.
It said cybercrime reports increased by 42 per cent over the three years, with all cyber offence categories increasing except cyber abuse.
“Cyber-fraud increased by 95 per cent and identity crime increased by 35 per cent – these were the most common cyber offences, accounting for 79 per cent of all reports,” the Bureau said.
“Device offences (malware and ransomware) had the largest increase, with reports increasing by 117 per cent.”
Executive Director of BOCSAR, Jackie Fitzgerald said that to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and nature of cybercrime, the disparate reporting systems needed to be integrated.
“Cyber-offending is arguably our most significant emerging crime problem,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“However, our understanding of this offence is seriously hampered, firstly, by people not coming forward, and, secondly, when they do, by the multiple, competing channels available to people to report the offence.”
BOCSAR’s 18-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
