Teen blackmailing on the rise: Dubai Police

175 Blackmailing cases recorded in Dubai in 2018

dubai — A 16-year-old boy was saved in the nick of time by the Dubai Police after he reported a cybercriminal via the police’s ecrime platform, officials revealed during a conference on Tuesday. A top official said a criminal, who pretended to be from a “wellknown family”, had contacted the boy and offered him money and luxury items in exchange for some photos of him.

Captain Abdullah Al Shehhi from the cybercrime department said the boy reported the crime to the police after his father advised him to do so. “The police dealt with the case within 24 hours and offered counselling to the boy,” said the official.

This was among the 15 blackmailing cases involving children that the police dealt with in 2018. “Children easy access to smartphones may expose them to threats, if parents don’t supervise and guide them,” said Capt Al Shehhi .

The first Cybercrime Forum heard that the number of blackmailing cases has been increasing over the years. In 2018, the police recorded 175 cases, as compared to 112 in 2017 and 87 in 2016.

The forum brought together 100 experts from 24 government and private entities.

Dubai residents can use the police’s smart channels to report cybercrime, said Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief of the Dubai Police for criminal investigation. “Our smart services help victims report crimes around the clock without the fear of a social scandal and breach of privacy. The police will offer psychological and technical support to the victims,” the officer said.