KATE SNOW, CNN ANCHOR: The Feds also are on the hunt for criminals trying to cheat you in cyberspace. The Justice Department today gave details about its crackdown on Internet swindlers or "dot- cons," as the attorney generally called them. Let's check in with our Justice correspondent, Kelli Arena -- Kelli.</s>KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Kate, much of what we've heard from the FBI lately has involved terrorism. But today, the focus was on cyber crime. It's one of the most rampant types of white collar crimes and its victims run the gamut. Officials outlined a series of investigations over the past five months targeting investment scams, identity theft, online banking fraud, even and a sham Russian marriage service. This week alone, federal agents have arrested 50 people and executed 55 search and seizure warrants.</s>JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Operation e-Con sends a clear message to those trolling the Internet for victims. Illegal activities in the virtual world have real world consequences.</s>ARENA: Since the beginning of the year, the government has conducted investigations involving more than 89,000 victims who lost a total of $176 million. In one case, approximately 400 men lost about $3,000 each in a scheme promising lonely hearts the hope of marrying a Russian woman. Director Robert Mueller says cyber crime is among the FBI's top priorities, but officials admit it's difficult to fight because the cases many time involves overseas connections. Kate, back to you.</s>SNOW: And they have a lot of other things they have to be worrying about now, too.</s>ARENA: That's true.</s>SNOW: Kelli Arena, thank you.
Justice Department Cracks Down on Cyber Crime