NW Georgia News

Attorney General Chris Carr is actively promoting cybersecurity awareness throughout October, as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. With the increasing prevalence of cyber-enabled crimes, Carr's efforts aim to empower Georgians with essential information and resources to safeguard their data and devices.

According to a press release titled "Carr Highlights Efforts to Fight Cybercrime During Cybersecurity Awareness Month," Attorney General Chris Carr is emphasizing his office's commitment to combating cybercrime during Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October. His office's Prosecution Division and the Georgia Cyber Fraud Task Force are working to investigate and prosecute cyber-enabled crimes, with a particular focus on tackling phishing scams, data breaches, and malware threats.

Carr is also providing valuable tips and resources to help Georgia residents and businesses protect their data and devices from cyber threats. The press release states that cyber-enabled crime losses in the state reached over $322 million last year, contributing to a nationwide total of $10 billion.

"In a press release, Attorney General Chris Carr said: 'Phishing scams, data breaches, and malware pose very real threats to Georgia businesses and consumers. Through the work of our Prosecution Division and the Georgia Cyber Fraud Task Force, we’re continuing our efforts to ensure those who enable cyber-fraud schemes are held accountable for their actions. Now more than ever, it’s imperative that Georgians take proactive steps to protect their data and devices, and our office offers a wealth of information to help start that process,'" the press release quotes Carr as saying.

The Georgia Cyber Fraud Task Force, in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies, aims to combat the rising threat of cyber-enabled crime. The press release states that reported losses exceeded $322 million in Georgia alone and $10 billion nationwide last year. The task force focuses on identifying and investigating money mules, streamlining the process through leads from victim complaints and community outreach.

The press release also cites a specific example where the Attorney General's Public Integrity and White Collar Crime Unit recently filed charges on February 15, 2023, in Gwinnett County. These charges are related to alleged involvement in various cyber-enabled fraud schemes, such as a Business Email Compromise scam targeting the Georgia Department of Transportation and a romance scam affecting a private citizen. The charges include Racketeering, alongside additional charges of Theft by Taking and Money Laundering.

To help individuals and businesses protect themselves against cyber threats, the Attorney General's Office offers several tips. These include using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, recognizing and reporting phishing attempts, regularly updating system and software, being cautious about scams using AI, and staying vigilant against crypto investment scams. The office urges potential investors to research opportunities and seek professional guidance due to the high risk in the cryptocurrency sector.

In addition to their efforts, the Attorney General's press release states that in April 2023, the Public Integrity and White Collar Crime Unit joined a nationwide investigation into Genesis Market, a dark web marketplace where operators sold stolen data. This resulted in hundreds of leads being sent to law enforcement agencies across the United States.