The FBI can help Kansas City fight cyberscammers. Here’s how you can play your part

From virtual conferencing with our medical providers to ordering meals online, our lives are becoming increasingly dependent on cyberspace. But as our technology continues to evolve, so should the security infrastructure that protects it.

That’s why the FBI is working closer with businesses across the United States, and in every sector, to protect against known cyber bad actors, to mitigate cyber risks, and identify new and emerging threats that are coming across the horizon faster than ever.

Ransomware incidents reported by companies to the FBI, for example, nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021 — rising 80% over the two-year period. Each year, the FBI combs through thousands of leads and has recovered millions of dollars and massive amounts of data that were initially lost to cybercrime. In 2021 alone, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported nearly 20,000 complaints of business email compromises, with approximately $2.4 billion lost in commerce from companies and individuals.

And these schemes run the gamut from basic phishing campaigns to sophisticated cyberattacks. The tricks use every method imaginable to gain access. Sometimes they can be directed toward multiple people with a single target in mind, while others can target a single individual with the goal of impacting thousands. And these efforts can be accomplished in minutes or span several years.

I want to reassure you that the FBI is doing all it can to mitigate incidents and identify new threats and vulnerabilities, by dedicating an extensive amount of time and resources. For example, we’ve established cyber task forces in each of our field offices made up of skilled personnel, including investigators, intelligence analysts and computer scientists, just to name a few.

The Kansas City Cyber Crime Task Force is focused on stopping purveyors of malware wherever they are in the world. We conduct investigations that have an impact in Kansas City and beyond. The task force also focuses on nation-state activity aimed at illegally acquiring intellectual property and destructive attacks on U.S. assets.

But we can’t do this alone. We need your help.

By reporting intrusions you encounter immediately, we can assist you and proactively help others before they fall victim to the same scam. For example, when we are notified of an attack, the FBI will bring as many or as few resources as you need. We will determine if the incident is linked to other attacks, provide you with technical information and support to stop the attack, and put our investigative efforts into helping you recover data and assets.

But we believe a relationship with us should start before an incident. A partnership with the FBI can be as simple as a phone call. Maybe it’s having someone from your team join InfraGard — a partnership between the FBI and members of the private sector to facilitate information sharing and communication. Either way, you’ll find the FBI ready to help you when an incident occurs.

I understand the hesitancy. Businesses can be wary about working with the FBI. But maybe these statistics will reassure you:

▪ More than 600 of Fortune 1000 companies are a part of the FBI’s Domestic Security Alliance Council.

▪ More than 70,000 professionals in the United States workforce are participants in the FBI’s InfraGard program.

▪ Nearly all of the top 50 U.S. banks, ranked by assets, have partnerships with the FBI’s Recovery Asset Team, working to recover stolen funds from cyber schemes.

While these emerging cyber incidents may seem new, the FBI can be there to provide the resources and capabilities to help you navigate uneasy waters. Protect yourself by taking steps such as increasing awareness and using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

Just as important: Have a cyber response plan — and test it regularly. Put us on your list of people to call when that cyber incident does happen. Together, we can work as partners to protect your company and our country.

This story was originally published August 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.