May 27--C ybernauts beware.

Whether it is bogus investment offers, identity theft or possession of kiddie porn, instances of online crime are on the rise.

The FBI's 2008 Internet crime report revealed an alltime high in cyber crime complaints, a trend reflected in the increase in computer forensic examinations and online crime assists in Iowa.

"A lot of traditional crimes now have a cyber nexus," said Gerard Meyers of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Cyber Crime Unit.

Online crime is now "a thing with a lot of broken tentacles that crosses all spectrums," he said.

Nationwide, 275,284 com plaints about online crimes were filed in 2008. About 74 percent of the offenses occurred via e-mail and 28 percent were through Web pages, according to the report, which did not explain why the total exceeded 100 percent.

Iowa's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, known to keep the most

accurate tally of Internet offenses in the state, reported 371 online crime assists in 2008, up from 282 the previous year.

Of the 339 computer forensic examinations conducted by the 76 affiliates that report to the DCI, there were 26 arrests, state data show. Search warrants were also up, from 54 to 63 from 2007 to 2008.

Common now is the seizure of multiple sharing and storage devices, such as computer hard drives, webcams, laptops, discs, videos and cell phones, among others.

But jurisdictional issues and lack of manpower hinder investigations by small agencies and local municipalities.

"It's not realistic to think we can follow virtual breadcrumbs around the world," Iowa City Police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said of Internet offenses. Most cases reported in Iowa City, he said, are forwarded to larger agencies for investigation.

"These are very difficult crimes for municipalities to investigate to any sort of conclusion," Kelsay said.

In Cedar Rapids, police work with the state cyber crime unit to focus on online crime to sex crimes against children.

Still, said Officer Charity Hansel, of the CedarRapids Sex Crimes Unit, nearly all cases go to the federal level, where guidelines are stricter.

The borderless offenses, which can take extended periods of time, require collaboration between agencies through cyber tips, investigation assistance and information sharing.

"These cases don't get solved overnight," Meyers said. "The challenge becomes prioritization and investigation ... and pooling resources in a very efficient and effective manner to bring these cases to the point of prosecution." Another factor handicapping investigation is the broad reach of theinfractions.

"Any of the crimes that occur on streets in a small town or big city can happen to you online," Meyer said. "It's a large concern for Iowa and across the country." And while Iowa may be in good standing in a state-by-state comparison -- ranking 35th for complaints filed and 37th for perpetrators in the state -- state law enforcement officials view cyber crime as a primary concern.

"People are going to manipulate technology to fulfill their desires," Hansel said. "And ... that's very dangerous."

â?" Contact the writer: (319) 339-3162 or carla. keppler@gazcomm.com

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