Financial Crime World

Egyptian Authorities Crack Down on Financial Crimes with Innovative Internet Investigation Workshop

Cairo Hosts Workshop on Open Source Internet Investigations

From 11-14 February 2018, Cairo, Egypt, played host to an essential workshop for Egyptian law enforcement and financial regulatory agencies. The Egyptian Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Combating Unit (EMLCU) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized the workshop titled “Open Source Internet Investigation.”

Significance of Internet in Financial Crime Investigations

In the digital age, the internet has become a crucial tool in financial crime investigations. Driven by this recognition, EMLCU and UNODC joined forces to impart knowledge and skills on utilizing the internet for net investigations.

Keynote Speeches at the Workshop

Judge Ahmed Said, Chairman of the EMLCU Board of Trustees, and Ms. Cristina Albertin, UNODC Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa, graced the occasion with their presence for the official opening of the workshop. Their speeches emphasized the importance of utilizing open source tools in net investigations. They highlighted the significant impact such tools have on evidence gathering, successful prosecution, and informed court presentations.

Participating Organizations

Egyptian national organizations and agencies with concerned parties in the investigation of financial crimes attended the workshop. These organizations included the Public Prosecution, National Security, Administrative Control Authority, EMLCU, and the Central Bank of Egypt.

Key Aspects of Internet Investigations

The comprehensive training program covered essential components of internet investigations, such as:

  1. Planning an online investigation: Understanding the importance of preparing an investigation plan, choosing the appropriate search terms, and considering the privacy implications and potential risks were among the topics.
  2. Effective search techniques: Procedures for effective and targeted searches using search engines and social media platforms were presented, emphasizing the importance of advanced search techniques.
  3. Capture and handling internet evidence: Techniques for capturing and preserving internet evidence, like webscreenshots, log files, and cache data, were also discussed.
  4. The deep web and cryptocurrencies: Understanding the anonymous networks and cryptocurrencies and their role in financial crimes was another essential topic covered in the workshop.

Practical Hands-on Learning Experience

Participants in the workshop gained practical experience in executing online net investigations. They were provided opportunities to apply the concepts acquired throughout the workshop, thereby reinforcing their understanding of conducting successful investigations.