Cybercrime

Publication date 28-02-2025, 11:19 | Last update 02-04-2025, 13:36

Cybercrime is a crime committed with digital devices. For example, hacking computers, online fraud or money laundering with digital currency such as bitcoin. The FIOD traces offenders of financial cybercrime.

What is cybercrime?

Cybercrime describes criminal offences committed with an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) device such as a computer or a telephone, that are aimed at ICT devices or processed or are processed by ICT. In addition, classic offences such as fraud or child pornography committed with an ICT device can be involved.

What does the FIOD do to fight cybercrime?

Due to the increasing digitalisation, more and more digital devices are used in committing fraud.

The types of cyber investigations the FIOD has conducted vary. For example, tax fraud, bitcoin fraud, swindling, websites with illegal content, and the trade in prohibited goods, such as weapons and drugs. Additionally, investigations have been conducted where anti-COVID drugs  were offered on the internet when they had not even been developed yet.

The FIOD employs experts in the field of data, technology and cryptocurrencies. They identify illegal money flows. For example, the FIOD can see exactly how much a criminal organisation earned on the dark web and where this money went afterwards. From there, the FIOD tries to identify the criminals, apprehend them and confiscate any benefit obtained from the crime.

The FIOD works together

Cybercrime does not respect national borders. Therefore, the FIOD works together with authorities both in the Netherlands and abroad. The so-called Financial Advanced Cyber Team (FACT) of the FIOD works together with, among others:

• The Netherlands Tax Authority
• Europol and Interpol
• National Police
• Public Prosecution Service (OM)
• Royal Netherlands Military Constabulary (Border Police)
• Drug Enforcement Administration  (DEA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

And numerous other international investigative authorities.

In order to improve investigations, the FIOD uses the latest technologies and scientific insights. This is why the FIOD also works together with colleges, universities, knowledge institutes and cybersecurity companies.