ALARMING TREND: Half of Police-Reported Cybercrime Incidents Go Uncharged

Cybercrime on the Rise in Canada

A recent report from Statistics Canada has highlighted a disturbing trend: 57% of police-reported cybercrime incidents went uncharged in 2021. This staggering statistic underscores a persistent problem that shows no signs of slowing down.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

• In 2021, there were 168,483 police-reported fraud incidents in Canada.
• This represents a rate of 441 incidents per 100,000 population.
• Since 2011, fraud rates have increased significantly, with extortion quadrupling from 4.4 incidents to 17.6 incidents per 100,000 population.

The Changing Face of Cybercrime

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the nature of police-reported fraud. While card and cheque fraud decreased due to the decline in in-person commerce, fraudulent government claims (such as those for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit) saw a significant increase.

Forms of Fraud

Fraud can take many different forms, and incidents may not always fit into a limited set of categories. In 2021:

• Approximately 4 in 10 frauds were identified as “other fraud”.

The Police’s Response

While law enforcement agencies are working to combat cybercrime, their response to these crimes is also a concern.

Charges and Clearance Rates

Among fraud recorded by police in 2021:

• Only 7% were cleared by charge.
• 3% were cleared otherwise.
• The majority (90%) of incidents remained unresolved.

Time to Clear Incidents

The average time it takes for police to clear an incident of fraud is 54 days, which is longer than the average time for property crimes overall.

A Call to Action

These findings highlight the need for continued efforts to combat cybercrime and protect Canadians from fraudulent activities. Law enforcement agencies must work closely with other stakeholders to identify new tactics and strategies for tackling this persistent problem.