The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
FBI lessons to aid cyber crime fight
Aformer detective, who was trained by the FBI, will be at the helm of a cyber and fraud crimefighting organisation being set up in Aberdeen.
Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland, which is classed as the country’s “leading organisation for building resilience against cyber and fraud crime” will set up base in the Granite City, adding to sites already in Dundee and Edinburgh.
A former Police Scotland detective superintendent in the force’s specialist crime division, Alex Dowall, has been appointed as head of fraud and cyber at the centre in Aberdeen.
With over three decades of experience in policing, the centre said he “brings an incredible range of experience and specialism to his new role”.
The organisation said having an office in Aberdeen “represents an investment into extending the centre’s presence”.
They added: “The move into Aberdeen fulfils an aim to ensure coverage and support of organisations across Scotland, both physically and virtually, as much as possible.”
Mr Dowall – who was the head of Police Scotland’s specialist cybercrime investigations and digital forensics – retired from the force in March.
During his 30-year career, he specialised in investigating organised crime and was the national lead for crimes of kidnap and extortion.
Originally from Dundee, Mr Dowall moved to Aberdeen in 1994 where he joined Grampian Police. He served in the force’s drug squad, surveillance unit and led one of its major investigations teams.
When Police Scotland formed in April 2013, he became detective chief inspector in Aberdeen and Moray. He moved to the specialist crime division, in which he investigated serious organised crime across Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee.
He was selected for the FBI’s prestigious National Academy where he elected to study cyber investigations, graduating from Quantico in March 2020.
Mr Dowall said: “I’ve witnessed first-hand the evolving landscape where cyber threats intersect with traditional criminal activities like fraud.
“I’m eager to apply my expertise to further strengthen our defences against cyber and fraud-related crimes.”