Economic Hardship Leads the Way for Cybercrime

As investment in national cybersecurity has grown, so has the focus on improving the quality of life for the Moldovan population. With a public consisting of many computer whiz kids, financial desperation following the Soviet Union collapse has led some to work for the “wrong” side of cyberspace.

“In the early 2000s, the combination of strong STEM talent, fluency in foreign languages and socio-economic pressure, created opportunities for skilled individuals to engage in cybercrime,” said Natalia Bell, American-Romanian-Moldovan cybersecurity expert. Those individuals largely originated from post-Soviet countries and were motivated by financial gain. “While Moldovans were not the heads of cybercrime operations, they did find easy ways to make money by engaging in these types of activities,” she said, explaining that economic instability incentivized a faster path to financial gain rather than pursuing education and full-time employment. Due to political instability, Russian influence and economic hardship, students would join groups of malicious cyber operators for financial gain. “You give a computer to a very talented kid who lacks awareness, that was great in math and that has the need for money, guess what’s going to happen?” Bell said.

However, through changes in administration and reforms, the Moldovan government has worked toward offering its people a better quality of life. While cybercrime still exists, there has been a gradual decline, Bell noted. “It is also the responsibility of Moldovan law enforcement agencies, backed by strong legislative frameworks, to combat and deter cybercrime activities, much like their significant efforts to fight against corruption,” she added.

Certain cases have been made public. In February, for example, law enforcement agencies detained 26 people accused of a financial fraud operation between Romania and Moldova.

Additionally, Bell noted that Moldova’s firm position against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, may increasingly make it a target for cyber attacks. “Anticipating this risk, the European Union provides multiple directions of support.”