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By Peter Warren, 4 May 2001 11:00

COMMENT The response to silicon.com's Fighting Fraud campaign from both industry at large and the computer sector has been overwhelming. Our call for a UK-based fraud reporting centre has received huge support across the board from organisations ranging from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Institute of Directors (IoD), to the Computing Services and Software Association (CSSA), to companies and readers. Many of those who have sent messages of support claim our call for an independent central reporting site for internet fraud does not go far enough. They suggest the call should be extended to include all cybercrime. Notable among those demanding some radical action to combat the threat of computer crime to ecommerce, tacitly admitted by both the Government and UK industry to be the life-blood of the new economy, was the British Web Design and Marketing Association (BWDMA). According to Patrick White, spokesman for the BWDMA, the organisation "while applauding the initiative, is concerned that the scale and scope is too small". He added: "What is needed is a reporting mechanism that can give an accurate picture of the crime problems faced by the computer industry." This is a view backed by silicon.com reader Lawrence McNulty, who picked up on the main problem currently bedevilling the reporting of computer crime - distrust of the authorities. "I would like to add my support for the creation of an independent body to which cybercrime victims can report in confidence," he said. It's a message reinforced by Guillaume Laborie, himself a victim of fraud. He said: "I think this is a very good idea and I support it fully. I have just been defrauded by an ISP which pocketed my money and went into liquidation two weeks after. I've just been advised by my local trading standards that the managing director of this company has planned to open a new one in June offering basically the same service." At least this is something that a computer crime reporting centre should curtail.