Computers and Technological Crime
James W. Osterburg, Richard H. Ward · 2010
This chapter addresses some of the more common types of computer and technological crime, and some of the more troublesome types of criminal activity that cut across borders and jurisdictions using various forms technology. Criminal investigation has been enhanced considerably through the use of commercial programs involving relational databases, mapping, artificial intelligence, and criminal profiling. The result has been the development of a new type of investigator, sometimes referred to as a cyberdetective . Some of the common types of crime using information technology are child pornography and exploitation, electronic stalking and harassment, intellectual property crimes, mail and wire fraud, telecommunications fraud, data theft, and electronic sabotage. In many ways investigation involving various forms of technology, especially computers and the Internet, are complicated by a myriad of legal issues, court decisions, and policy issues of organizations. A thorough discussion of investigative methods involving high-tech crime is also discussed in the chapter. Electronic surveillance takes many forms, and is being used more frequently in terrorism and organized crime investigations. Information technology offers investigators one of the most important advances in law enforcement, and is a major new area of development.