Internet crime rate soars and leads white-collar offenses

White-collar crimes, including internet scams and fraud, continue to plague residents of Georgia. The stark reality is that internet crime experienced a sharp increase recently.

Sharp rise in internet crimes in 2020

White-collar crimes associated with the internet experienced an especially sharp increase in the year 2020. According to the FBI, there was an almost 70% increase in internet crimes reported to the nation’s top law enforcement agency in 2020. Internet crime reports rose to almost 720,000 in 2020, which represented an increase of more than 300,000 over the number of incidents reported in 2019.

Total losses associated with internet crimes in 2020

As of the beginning of 2021, the FBI had completed a preliminary calculation of monetary losses associated with internet crimes. The total reported internet crime losses for that year currently are logged in at over $4.2 billion. The tally is expected to increase as more data is amassed regarding the number of losses from 2020.

With the significant increase in internet crimes in 2020, more attention is being paid to these types of white-collar crimes. As a result, some individuals who are not guilty of these types of offenses can get caught in the large net that law enforcement is likely now using. If you have been charged with any type of white-collar crime, including one associated with the internet, you have important constitutional and legal interests to protect. Your legal rights are best safeguarded by engaging the services of a capable, experienced Georgia criminal defense lawyer.