eBay’s chief information and security officer (CISO) Dave Cullinane told Romanian central newspaper “Romania Libera” that to label Romania as the top source of eBay payment fraud means to over-simplify the matter, disregarding the latest developments – both positive and negative – in the area of cybercrime fight. 

Asked whether he feels it’s appropriate to assume that Romanian cybercriminals are the most active and skilled such group out of countries who enjoy such a bleak reputation, Cullinane replied that the large number of apprehended Romanian online fraudsters in a direct result of the good cooperation between Romanian authorities and eBay’s own security division. He explained that due to the intensive collaboration with Romanian authorities – which dates back to 2003 – and the constant development of criminal tracking techniques, more fraudsters have been apprehended in Romania than in similar countries. However, Cullinane stressed that online payment fraud is a global matter which must not be underestimated and seen as restricted to a single country.

Cullinane also remarked that while cybercrime prevention is an activity which receives less financing than it needs all over the globe. He is currently satisfied with the amount of progress registered by Romanian cybercrime fighting units, which eBay has helped to educate. The eBay CISO also pointed out that Romania set a very good example when it gave some of the toughest jail sentences for online criminal activities.