Cybercrime is no longer stuff that fanatical comic books espouse as prophetic utterances. It is a billion-dollar industry that continues to grow regardless of what security measures and technological advances are made. And there is no sign of it letting up any time soon.

But rather than leave the crooks to their own devices and enjoy their perceived freedom the FBI have their own tactics for spying out the climate of online terrorism.

Wired News started a three part series last month sharing the views of David Thomas, a one-time Mr Big of cybercrime, as he now fights against the hackers as an unidentified possible employee of the FBI.

The story starts here and progresses through a case of a sojourning honeymooner who was fraudulently separated with more than $106,000 as he holidayed with his new wife. The money was moved to a Belgian bank account and withdrawn by a second accomplice.

Unbeknown to the cybercrime hacker he was being watched by Thomas and every conversation between him and his accomplice was observed and recorded. The Belgian withdrawer never showed and both him and the hacker, known as desertmack, were simultaneously arrested - though not for the same crimes.

Stories like these happen on a regular basis and it helps continue the fight against these online cybercrimes. They will probably never go away, but be assured the are being contested and convicted.

Link found via Boing Boing