Only a fraction of victims complain to help centre

PETALING JAYA: Cyber999 Help Centre received 495 complaints from distressed Malaysians who became victims of cyber bullies last year.

The number is only a fraction of the victims, with many cases of online stalking, harassment and humiliating believed to have gone unreported.

Typical of the reports that the help centre of Cybersecurity Malaysia received is this complaint: “I am really stressed and depressed because someone is trying to ruin my reputation, career and life. He wrote something that I really didn’t do.

“Please, I am sick and really feel down right now. I have contacted him and asked him to shut down the blog or remove my pictures and stories, and even threatened to take legal action against him.

“It seems like my request has been rejected and he is continuing to make statements to attack me.”

Another user complained that someone impersonating her was posting naked pictures of her, along with false personal information, on Facebook.

“There are pornographic and personal pictures used by unscrupulous people with intent to humiliate me and my family,” she reported.

An expert, meanwhile, said that bullies tend to feel less accountable for their actions when they use the Internet to attack their victims anonymously.

“Anonymity and distance can inspire people to say and do things online they would never do in person,” said Help University Institute of Crime and Criminology director Datuk Akhbar Satar.

He said that it was almost impossible to trace the perpetrator on the Internet, making it popular among bullies who could visit cybercafes to stalk, harass or smear their victims.

“Cyber bullying is very convenient – you only need a computer or mobile phone with an Internet connection,” he said, adding that the wide audience that could be reached was an inducement.

Bullies can be categorised as malicious or non-malicious, Akhbar said, adding: “Malicious bullies are born with psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies. They are usually ruthless, manipulative and destructive and intent on frightening and humiliating their victims.

“The second category get excited when they bully others online, especially when others respond, comment or support them in the act.”