President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday (local time) to crack down on cybercrime, fraud, and online criminal activities that federal officials say cost Americans billions of dollars annually.

The order directs federal agencies to step up efforts against transnational criminal organizations that defraud U.S. citizens through phishing attacks, ransomware attacks, financial fraud, and online extortion, according to White House documents.

It reflects a move to treat cyber fraud and online exploitation as major criminal enterprises rather than isolated incidents, and to dismantle their networks through federal law enforcement, diplomatic pressure, and sanctions.

Under this directive, the government will establish plans to identify criminal organizations that perpetrate large-scale cyber fraud and seek new ways to disrupt and dismantle their operations.

The plan will review the operational, technological, diplomatic, and regulatory tools the federal government can use to combat cybercrime.

The order also calls for the establishment of a dedicated operational unit within the National Coordination Center to coordinate federal responses and intelligence gathering against cybercrime networks.

The directive instructs federal prosecutors to prioritize major cyber fraud cases and to pursue "the most serious and demonstrable crimes."

The Department of Homeland Security will collaborate with state and local governments to strengthen defenses against cyber threats.

The Department of Justice will also explore whether to establish a program to return confiscated or forfeited funds from cybercriminals directly to victims.

The order also targets the international dimension of many fraudulent schemes.

It directs the State Department to urge foreign governments to take action against criminal organizations within their borders and specifies consideration of penalties for countries that condone such activities, including sanctions, visa restrictions, limitations on foreign aid, or expulsion of officials.

The measures are intended to disrupt the global ecosystem of cybercrimes targeting Americans, which is increasingly preying on seniors and minors.

According to federal data cited by the White House, Americans reported losses of over $12.5 billion from cyber fraud in 2024 alone. Surveys indicate that approximately 73% of U.S. adults have experienced some form of online fraud or cyberattack.

Authorities also point to the growing threat of sextortion scams, where criminals extort victims, primarily minors, into sending explicit photos and then demand money. One study found that 1 in 7 minors who experienced sextortion reported self-harm as a result of the abuse.

This executive order builds on existing cybersecurity measures by the Trump administration.

In June, President Trump signed a separate executive order aimed at strengthening national cybersecurity and protecting critical digital infrastructure from foreign threats.

The administration has also supported legislation focused on online exploitation, including the "Take It Down Act," which was passed with bipartisan support in May of last year. This act regulates the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery and the misuse of deepfakes.

By NNP Chief Editor Sung Ku Hong / Special Correspondent for this newspaper NNP info@newsandpost.com