(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the United States Secret Service established a new Electronic Crimes Task Force (ECTF) in San Diego, CA. The creation of this new ECTF expands the total number to 40 worldwide. This new ECTF is comprised of over 10 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies as well as over 20 private sector companies and representatives from the world of academia.
In accordance with the USA Patriot Act of 2001, the Secret Service established a network of ECTFs, based on the agency’s highly successful New York City model. As a result, the Secret Service has generated an unprecedented level of partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the private sector, and academia. The Secret Service and our partners in California identified the need to build, coordinate and leverage skills, resources and investigative capacity to combat cybercrime.
Through this partnership, the Southern California Electronic Crimes Task Force (SoCalECTF) will confront and suppress technology-based criminal activity perpetrated by transnational criminal groups that endangers the integrity of our nation’s financial payments systems and critical infrastructure. Further, the Secret Service led group will work with its partners to educate and prevent cybercrime. The Secret Service is committed to continuing to expand its national network of Electronic Crimes Task Forces throughout our field offices to counter the threat of cybercrime and improve cyber security.
"These partnerships demonstrate our commitment to protecting our nation’s critical financial infrastructure and have proven remarkably successful in detecting and suppressing computer-based crime," said Secret Service Director, Randolph D. Alles. "The success of our task forces relies on the strength of our partnerships and the Secret Service will continue to build on these successes to seek new and innovative ways to combat emerging cyber threats."
"The addition of this ECTF further strengthens the growing international network of Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Forces and working groups," said Assistant Director for Investigations Kenneth Jenkins. "As technology continues to evolve, cybercriminals use these advances and enhancements to perpetrate an expanding range of crimes and this new ECTF will further strengthen the ability of the Secret Service to conduct cyber-crime investigations and protect our nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks."