14 DAY TRIAL // Internet crime is very alluring because it is fairly easy to commit and it doesn't take the mastermind planning required to rob a bank. It's mostly a routine job of going through credit card numbers and transacting from others' accounts into their favor or promising items that you don't have and then disappearing into the blue with the money. It's not really that easy, but it's got no kicks to it other than the law kicking your behind if they catch you.
The Spanish police have arrested 76 people nationwide on Sunday in a sweep, their biggest ever. The 76 have stolen about 3 million euro (roughly 4 million dollars), as a statement of the authorities mentioned. Most of those detained were Spaniards, 47, but there were also 5 Ukrainians, 5 Guineans, 4 Romanians and 2 Moroccans, according to AFP.
The arrest is one thing, being able to gather the information needed to incriminate every individual requires great and hard work, but the weak penalties applied make Internet crime be forever young. Going over the EU laws, regarding the aspect and making them something that would scare cyber criminals into giving up at the very thought of attempting something mischievous, would solve the problem, but it is a lengthy and difficult process that requires individual case consideration and judging before one law is passed.
The police said that because of the growing trend that has private information to be very valued by villains, additional caution would be welcomed when dealing with online transactions and purchases. Sites that users have grown to trust are to be favored over any others, no matter how shiny the second category might look. Also, they would have to be very careful to not fall victim to phishing, or any other sites that require private data to be input.