Strategic partnership to fight against ecommerce fraud in Europe

Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Merchant Risk Council (MRC Europe), an independent and not-for-profit business association engaged in fighting e-commerce fraud in Europe. The MoU was signed by Una Dillon, Managing Director of MRC Europe and the Head of EC3, Steven Wilson, at the Europol headquarters in The Hague.

MRC Europe is a close partner of EC3 in taking action against e-commerce fraud in the European market landscape. As such, MRC Europe is a key stakeholder in the recurrent Europol e-Commerce Action, an international EMPACT operation targeting fraudsters and serious organised crime groups with the help of national competent authorities, as well as MRC’s network of 535 e-merchants.

On signing the agreement, Steven Wilson commented “Partners like the Merchant Risk Council provide an excellent platform to facilitate cooperation with hundreds of private sector partners in Europe in the fight against serious organised crime groups. Combined with EC3’s network of law enforcement partners this MOU with the MRC is an important step forward to protecting the citizens of Europe.”

Una Dillon said „The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding today further strengthens this relationship.　Over the past ten years, e-commerce fraud has become increasingly sophisticated and our working relationship with Europol is of great strategic importance to both the public and private sector in helping to reduce and prevent this crime.”