MEETING DATE
Fri, Nov. 19, 2004

Detective Ed Finlay Presents Protecting Yourself from Internet Crime

Ed Finlay is one of the detectives in the Monmouth County Computer Crimes Unit. The Unit is composed of an Assistant Prosecutor, a Lieutenant, and three detectives - all experienced in computer crime investigation and/or forensic examination. This Unit investigates and prosecutes computer facilitated crime committed in Monmouth County and provides technological and legal support to other Units/Agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of computer related crime.

Monmouth County is witnessing the ascension of a new vehicle for criminal enterprise: the computer. Our County has been home to Internet stock fraud, the electronic invasion of private computers, terrorist threats communicated by e-mail, digital child pornography, chat-room predation by pedophiles and a computer virus that created havoc and caused millions in damages across the world. Given the concentration of technology related employment in our County and the ready availability of consumer-level computing devices, it is expected that this type of criminal activity will increase markedly in the years to come.

The rise of the Internet has complicated matters further. Criminals from out-of-state or across the globe can now easily enter the territorial jurisdiction of Monmouth County and perpetrate crimes with no more than the click of a mouse button. Tracking these incursions has become the province of law enforcement.

Come to the November meeting where we’ll learn more about these crimes and how to protect ourselves.