Dubai shuts down 10K social media accounts
dubai — Over 10,000 social media accounts in Dubai were shut down by the police over cybercrimes this year, a top officer has said. The police also recorded 83 cases of cyber extortion during this period. Dubai recorded almost similar numbers of cyber extortion in the last two years — 87 in 2016 and 80 in 2015.
The police have launched a two-month campaign to educate residents about ways to stay safe from cyber extortion. Butti Ahmed bin Darwish Al Falasi, director of security awareness, said: “It is crucial that the masses are told how to safeguard themselves from being blackmailed by those who misuse the Internet.”
Ghaya Sultan Al Muhairi, director of the Dubai Education Zone, hailed the campaign, saying students would “specially benefit from the campaign as it would teach them about the perils posed by cyber extortion”.
dubai — The Dubai Police have closed 10,000 social media accounts involved in cybercrimes this year, said a senior police official. The police also recorded 83 threat and blackmailing reports for cyber extortion during the same period.
The Dubai Police launched an awareness campaign on the dangers of extortion on Wednesday, in the presence of Colonel Mohammed Aqeel Ahli, deputy director of criminal investigation department; Butti Ahmed bin Darwish Al Falasi, director of security awareness; and Ghaya Sultan Al Muhairi, director of the Dubai Educational Zone.
Col Aqeel said that the campaign, which will last two months, aims to raise awareness of the society about the dangers of extortion and the legal provisions to combat cybercrimes as well as the penalties that can be imposed on the culprits.
The drive will be carried out by the Dubai Police in coordination with many government departments and institutions in Dubai, Central Bank of Emirates, Union Cooperative Society, Juvenile Awareness and Care Association, sports clubs and social clubs of foreign communities.
Col Aqeel pointed out that the campaign is primarily meant to prevent people from falling prey to extortion and provide advice and guidance to them so that they don’t become victims of this type of cybercrime in the near future.
Al Falasi stressed that it is one of the most important campaigns carried out by the Dubai Police to raise awareness among people about cyber extortion as the social media is turning into an open space for all segments of the society.
“The Dubai Police feel the need to make society aware about the laws to tackle crimes related to information technology. It is crucial that the masses are told how to safeguard themselves from being blackmailed by those who misuse the Internet.”
Al Falasi called on those who are subjected to any threat on social media to report it to the police. Hailing the campaign, Al Muhairi pointed out that it would help educate a large segment of the society, especially the students about the perils posed by cyber extortion. She stressed that Dubai Educational Zone will pump in all its resources to ensure the goals of the campaign are met.
Mohammed Abdulrahman Ahli, director of Al Wahda Secondary School, dwelt on the importance of the campaign in protecting children from extortion.
He pointed out that the need to nail those who exploit social media for extortion and urgency to protect children against such elements through counselling, guidance and awareness.
The campaign will target a number of sectors, including the schools and universities, by presenting awareness talks by cybercrime experts, as well as raising their awareness by putting up posters on the websites of the govern- ment institutions. The campaign will also reach out to the sports sector, while spreading awareness against cyber extortion among young players in the sports academies and different clubs like Dubai Sports Clubs, Al Ahli Club Dubai, Al Nasr Club, Al Wasl Club and Hatta Club.
Don’t entertain strangers
During the launch, the Dubai Police, through awareness leaflets, explained that falling victim to cyber extortion could be avoided up to a
It is crucial that the masses are told how to safeguard themselves from being blackmailed by those who misuse the Internet.” Butti Ahmed bin Darwish Al Falasi, director of security awareness, Dubai Police
limit by not accepting friend requests from unknown people on social media. “No one should pay any money to the extortionists even if they issue threats or use blackmailing strategy. Don’t be afraid and deal with them calmly, while completely disconnecting with them.”
The Dubai Police called on young people who are being blackmailed to discuss it with their parents or anyone who they can trust and inform the police authorities as early as possible.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com