THE growing threat to North-East businesses posed by cyber criminals is set to be the major topic at a regional business showcase next month.

The DL Business Expo event, to be held at The Northern Echo Arena, in Darlington, is to host a major cyber-crime symposium on May 17.

A senior member of Durham Constabulary’s cyber-crime unit will tell delegates how to conduct business online and stay safe.

Latest figures show that online fraud, extortion and theft cost UK businesses a staggering £10.9 billion in 2015/16. That’s the equivalent of £210 for every person over the age of 16 living in the UK.

Jason Gurney, chairman of the Darlington Business Club, which organises the event, said: “We all hope it never happens to us but it pays to prepare for the worst.

“Recently, one of our members was called in to help a local firm which was being held to ransom by cyber criminals. The managing director had clicked on an innocent-looking link and within half an hour all his files were encrypted.

“It’s sickening when you think about it. Cyber-crime wrecks businesses and destroys lives. All too often the police are powerless because the criminals are operating from a country in Eastern Europe or the Middle East.

“Trusting to good fortune is the online equivalent of going to work and leave the door to your home open.”

The seventh annual DL Business Expo promises to be the biggest yet with more than 60 exhibitors and hundreds of delegates.

The show is hugely popular and most of the exhibition stands sell out within an hour of the event going online.

This year’s show is sponsored by Durham Tees Valley Airport, Resilient IT Systems, based in Middleton St George, Darlington’s Business Central and the Endeavour Partnership which will be sponsoring the Expo’s ‘Big Breakfast’ – a major networking opportunity for business leaders throughout the region.

Businesses with a DL postcode are invited to book their stand online at www.darlingtonbusinessclub.co.uk.