PIONEERING cyber crime-fighting work carried out by a Northallerton-based team has been praised by a local MP.

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak recently visited the UK’s national e-crime busting team which is based on the Standard Way Industrial Estate in Northallerton.

Working with investigators based in York, the National Trading Standards e-crime Team has been set up to tackle the growing threat of internet scams.

E-crime is defined as an offence committed using the internet, email or mobile phone technology.

It is a new and challenging area because rogue traders and fraudsters constantly use new techniques and a bewildering array of devices to scam and rip-off consumers on a national scale.

The Northallerton-based workers examine and gather evidence from a wide array of electronic devices seized during investigations.

Mr Sunak said he was “very proud” that a Northallerton base plays such a vital role in tackling e-crime, adding that online fraud costs consumers at least £3.5billion each year.