The acceleration of financial crimes on the Internet is stretching Minnesota's police agencies to their limits.

"These are ongoing crimes that are not only local, not only statewide and nationwide, but some are, indeed, worldwide," said Jeff Long, Edina's police chief and chairman of the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force.

Often short of resources for extensive online investigations, police agencies are pooling resources, working in partnerships with private companies, and scouring their departments for computer buffs who can track criminal activity.

Law enforcement authorities say the problem has worsened in recent years as criminals discover new ways to bilk people all over the world with a keystroke.

Source: Officer.com