George Venizelos, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI; William J. Bratton, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Thomas F. Prendergast, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, announce the establishment of the Financial Cyber Crimes Task Force. The task force will operate out of the FBI’s field office in New York and will focus on cyber-related criminal activity in the region. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the three agencies this month.

Cyber threats, which are increasing in number, impact our nation’s security and economy, as well as the average citizen. Cyber criminals from all over the world can plot against victims here in the New York area, transcending city, state, and national borders. Working with law enforcement partners at all levels will allow a comprehensive approach to cyber crimes. The task force will leverage resources from each agency to make the greatest impact. Those joining the FBI’s Cyber Division as task force officers will have access to the Bureau’s cyber investigations curriculum, composed of dozens of internally-developed and industry certified courses.

FBI Assistant Director George Venizelos said, “The task force model that has been successfully employed in response to bank robbery and terrorism cases is now being applied to the cyber realm. The FBI continues to develop positive working relationships with our fellow law enforcement officers in our joint efforts to tackle criminal activity, and we look forward to working with our partners at the NYPD and MTA to combat cyber crime.”

NYPD Police Commissioner William J Bratton said, “Cyber crime knows no geographical boundaries and expands the exposure to victims literally throughout the world. This task force extends the reach of law enforcement to help identify, pursue, and prosecute those who commit cybercrime wherever they may be. The NYPD is proud to be part of this collaboration with local, federal, and international agencies, which will help combat this threat by using modern day technology.”

MTA Chairman Prendergast said, “We recognize cyber crime as an expanding threat. The establishment of this interagency task force enables us to better share information and harness the most effective resources of all of our law enforcement partners in order to combat, mitigate, and prosecute the activities of malicious hackers or anyone who would use digital tools to do harm to MTA customers.”

This New York-based task force is one of 56 that the FBI established in field offices nationwide as part of the Next Generation Cyber Initiative, which focuses on combating the growing threat of cyber crime.