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Surge in cyber crime prompts action

The Australian 'she'll be right' attitude continues to be exploited by cyber criminals who may have surpassed the cost of the global drug trade, police say.

Cyber criminals are increasingly exploiting Australia's "she'll be right attitude", prompting a stronger response from NSW authorities, police say.

The Fraud Squad of the NSW Police Force was re-launched on Thursday as the Fraud and Cybercrime Squad.

Police minister, Michael Gallacher, said the rebadged squad would target sophisticated new tactics being used to dupe unsuspecting Australians.

"It's not as simplistic as one would be led to believe in terms of (credit card) skimming," Gallacher told reporters in Sydney.

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione warned that the internet was becoming central to illegal behaviour.

"The reality is every crime ... within 10 years will have a cyber flavour," Scipione said at the launch.

"Whether we're investigating the most serious of terrorist attacks or preparation for terrorist attacks right through to the most simple eBay fraud."

Detective Superintendent Col Dyson, who will head the new squad, said anyone who spends money over the internet is a target.

"It's a virtual criminal playground," Det Supt Dyson said at the launch.

"Similarly to the way police patrol streets, we'll be patrolling the internet."

He said a 2005 report from the Australian Institute of Criminology estimated that fraud made up 40 per cent of the cost of all crime.

"I've got no doubt that percentage would have expanded exponentially until today," Dyson said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was 75 per cent — the total cost of crime involving fraud."

He also said we're particularly susceptible to fraud.

"Psychologists do tell us Australians, by their nature, tend to have a punt," Dyson said.

"We tend to be a little bit naive. We have this 'she'll be right, mate' attitude. We tend to have a nature where we would rather not take the risk of confronting someone and then be wrong."

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More about: Andrew, Dyson, eBay, NSW Police

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