WASHINGTON - In recognition of the growing convergence of cyber and traditional financial crimes, the U.S. Secret Service is formally merging its Electronic Crimes Task Forces (ECTFs) and Financial Crimes Task Forces (FCTFs) into a single unified network, which will be known as the Cyber Fraud Task Forces (CFTFs). The CFTF is an evolution, not a revolution from the ECTF and FCTF model. The mission of the CFTF is to prevent, detect, and mitigate complex cyber-enabled financial crimes, with the ultimate goal of arresting and convicting the
most harmful perpetrators.
Since March, the Secret Service has focused its investigative efforts on disrupting and deterring criminal activity that could hinder an effective response to the pandemic and to recover stolen funds from Americans. The CFTF model has allowed for better data sharing, institutional alliance, and investigative skill development. Through these efforts, the Secret Service has successfully disrupted hundreds of online COVID19 related scams, investigated a number of cyber fraud cases, halted the illicit sales of online stolen COVID-19 test kits, prevented tens of millions of dollars in fraud from occurring, and is leading a nation-wide effort to investigate and counter a vast transnational unemployment fraud scheme targeting the U.S. state unemployment programs.