Organized crime groups going online, report says -- beware!

[Ray Dillinger]

On Tue, 14 Aug 2001, Declan McCullagh wrote:

>----- Forwarded message from Declan McCullagh <declan at well.com> -----
>>In addition, of course, organized crime groups use the Internet for
>>communications (usually encrypted) and for any other purposes when
>>they see it as useful and profitable. Indeed, organized crime is
>>proving as flexible and adaptable in its exploitation of
>>cyberopportunities as it is in any other opportunities for illegal
>>activity. 

Just a note here, but this is one of the most common stereotypes 
about organized crime figures, and it's just not true.  These guys 
are businessmen -- they won't turn down a deal just because it 
happens to be legal. Organized crime figures are proving flexible 
and adaptable in their exploitation of opportunities to make a 
profit -- they are not interested in "illegal activity" exclusively, 
they just don't give a damn whether a given opportunity happens to 
be legal or not.  

				Bear