According to a report of Online Security firm, Garlik, the rate of Cyber crime in UK has increased immensely in UK with more than 3.5 million online crimes took place in 2007 which is again a 20% rise from the previous year.

The major crimes committed are fraudulent, abusive and threat mails. An 8% drop in online identity theft was observed by the firm.

The credit crunch could be one of the major factors behind the increasing online fraud. Garlik fears that all the internet users will be subject to internet crime at some point of time or the other.

The highlights of the report suggest a growing professionalism among online criminals in carrying out online trade of personal and credit details.

More than 19,000 illicit traders have been identified in the black market.

Coming to cases like abuses and threat e-mails, online harassment has increased as the report suggests that more than two million people fall victims of abuses, blackmailing and false accusation.

The popular social networking sites are the major platforms to commit such crimes.

Due to the economic crisis, online crime has been increasing says the report. Analysts expect  to see further rise in the online crimes until and unless global financial meltdown stops.

But some people think the report is just the tip of the iceberg.

The fraud prevention specialist, Andrew Goodwill said, "Cybercrime costs the country hundreds of millions every year”.

Goodwill further added, "Retailers alone lost more than $ 437 million (£270 million) in 2007 from internet fraud. And that's just the figures reported by banks. These numbers are a shadow of the real figure. Pretty much everyone who goes online will be the subject of some kind of internet crime, be it phishing e-mails, virus attacks or malware". X

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