No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeCosta Rica Cybercrime Doubles as Criminals Go Digital

Costa Rica Cybercrime Doubles as Criminals Go Digital

Cybercrime continues to increase in Costa Rica, and the figures are concerning to Costa Rican authorities. Randall Zúñiga, Director of the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), stated that the face of crime in Costa Rica has changed in recent years, shifting from street assaults to more sophisticated types of crime.

According to the head of the OIJ, cybercrimes and crimes against life are overtaking incidents involving property. This criminal activity skyrocketed in 2024. Data show that in 2023, 5,259 such crimes were committed, while 2024 closed with 10,040 cases. The country transitioned from reporting 14 cybercrimes per day to 27, marking an increase of more than 90% in just one year.

The upward trend of this crime, which only ten years ago, in 2014, barely accounted for 0.3% of all crime reports in the country, has been confirmed. Today, they comprise 9%. Zúñiga pointed out that since the pandemic, this activity has surged, as health measures have confined many people to their homes. This shifted the criminal model, moving from street robberies to seeking access to others’ resources through phone calls, emails, and messages on social networks.

“Criminals realize that it is easier to scam remotely, through a call or an email,” said Randall Zúñiga. The rise of artificial intelligence has also posed a problem in this regard, as it has facilitated the planning and execution of these crimes.

Catching the criminals is now becoming more difficult for police forces. In the past, officers could locate the individuals committing crimes in a certain area, interview witnesses, and obtain a description of their physical appearance. Now, as they hide behind screens, they can expand their range of action and conceal their identities.

Zúñiga also noted that the amounts of money being stolen are significantly higher. He mentioned that some victims find themselves robbed of their entire salary or everything in their bank accounts, which amplifies the implications and consequences. The OIJ director urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid sharing any personal information. He also encouraged people to report if they fall victim to any cybercrimes.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Identified as Transit Point in Sinaloa Cartel Drug Network

Ovidio Guzman, the son of drug trafficker "El Chapo," admitted to U.S. justice that Costa Rica was used by the Sinaloa Cartel as a...

Meet the Bats of Costa Rica from Tent Makers to Fish Hunters

Costa Rica is home to around 220 species of non-marine mammals. Roughly half of those species, 117 is the current number, are the type...

Costa Rica’s Religious Culture Through the Eyes of a Non-Religious Expat

Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas that has an official religion—Catholicism—enshrined in its constitution. While the Constitution recognizes freedom of worship,...

Salvadoran Lawyers Fight for Rights of Trump-Deported Migrants in Secretive Prison

A small group of overstretched and outmatched lawyers is fighting for the rights of men deported by the Trump administration and held in a...

US Visa Cost Increase for Travelers and Workers Under New Law

United States President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law on July 4, introducing a new surcharge for most non-immigrant US...

Costa Rica Reports Surge in Human Trafficking Cases

The General Directorate of Immigration (DGME) has reported 36 confirmed victims of human trafficking for commercial or sexual purposes in Costa Rica during the...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica