Winnipeg police secure provincial funding for beef blockchain forensics unit
The Winnipeg Police Service received money from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to provide training for the examiner course certified in cryptocurrency tracing.
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Police in Winnipeg, the capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba, will be better prepared to deal with the use of cryptocurrency in cybercrime, thanks to funding of 100,000 Canadian dollars (CAD) provided by the provincial government.
Provincial Justice Minister Kevin Goertzen said Aug. 3 that money from the Criminal Asset Forfeiture Fund will be used to put five additional members of the police department through a training program. Certified Cryptocurrency Tracing Examiner, as well as purchase specialized software to track cybercrime activity such as CipherTrace and Blockchain Forensics.
According to the Manitoba government, cybercrime has increased by more than 370% between 2016 and 2020. Sgt. Trevor Thompson of the Winnipeg Police Financial Crimes Unit said in a statement:
"While cryptocurrencies have grown in popularity and become more widely available, criminal actors have now migrated into this space and are primarily using cryptocurrencies as a means of obtaining funds from their victims. In order to to combat the rise in the use of cryptocurrencies in criminal enterprises, the police must adapt.”
Thompson went on to say that his office receives seven or eight cybercrime reports a day, mostly related to fraudulent investment schemes that take advantage of the victim's lack of understanding of how crypto works. Often the criminal organizations involved are located outside of Canada. Anonymity is also an issue in crypto crimes, he added.
Related:Victorian Police to Get 'Greater Power' to Seize Criminals' Crypto Assets
Thompson
The Winnipeg Police Service received money from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to provide training for the examiner course certified in cryptocurrency tracing.
New
Police in Winnipeg, the capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba, will be better prepared to deal with the use of cryptocurrency in cybercrime, thanks to funding of 100,000 Canadian dollars (CAD) provided by the provincial government.
Provincial Justice Minister Kevin Goertzen said Aug. 3 that money from the Criminal Asset Forfeiture Fund will be used to put five additional members of the police department through a training program. Certified Cryptocurrency Tracing Examiner, as well as purchase specialized software to track cybercrime activity such as CipherTrace and Blockchain Forensics.
According to the Manitoba government, cybercrime has increased by more than 370% between 2016 and 2020. Sgt. Trevor Thompson of the Winnipeg Police Financial Crimes Unit said in a statement:
"While cryptocurrencies have grown in popularity and become more widely available, criminal actors have now migrated into this space and are primarily using cryptocurrencies as a means of obtaining funds from their victims. In order to to combat the rise in the use of cryptocurrencies in criminal enterprises, the police must adapt.”
Thompson went on to say that his office receives seven or eight cybercrime reports a day, mostly related to fraudulent investment schemes that take advantage of the victim's lack of understanding of how crypto works. Often the criminal organizations involved are located outside of Canada. Anonymity is also an issue in crypto crimes, he added.
Related:Victorian Police to Get 'Greater Power' to Seize Criminals' Crypto Assets
Thompson
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