Dubai foils 901 e-crime bids, secures Dh9 million

Cyber criminals used advanced techniques in their attempt to swindle money from citizens and residents including tricking them into sending money with the lure of winning huge amounts of cash.

Photo courtesy: Rafe Swan/Corbis

Dubai - The Dubai Police helped secure Dh9 million of the emirate’s citizens and residents by foiling the plans of cyber thieves since the beginning of the year.

Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police for Criminal Investigation, said the police prevented 901 cyber theft cases this year till June 23. Last year, the police prevented cyber theft of Dh28 million in 1,576 cases, while in 2013, the police secured Dh21 million by detecting 1,513 cases.

Cyber criminals used advanced techniques in their attempt to swindle money from citizens and residents. These included tricking victims into sending money with the lure of winning huge amounts of cash; bogus discounts on paying traffic fines; and stealing credit card data. Cyber crimes ranged from illegal acquisition of funds, fraud, extortion, impersonation, phishing, libel and slander. The police also prevented cases of online bullying of children.

Lt.-Colonel Saeed Al Hajri, Director of Electronic Investigation Department, explained there are five sections at the department to investigate e-crimes: Research and Development, Fraud, Individual Crime, Forgery and Credit Cards, and Information Security.

The department, Lt.-Col Al Hajri said, monitors and investigates cases ranging from e-mail fraud, piracy, trafficking, sexual harassment of children, threat and blackmail, immorality and violations of intellectual property rights.

Malicious apps

Lt.-Col Al Hajri warned of malicious smart applications that can facilitate data thefts, including sensitive bank-related information. He urged people to instal software protection systems on their phones. “According to a report issued by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, the world’s biggest economies — the US, China, Japan and Germany — suffer losses worth $200 billion annually from e-crimes.”

Electronic evidence

Major Hamad Juma, acting Director of the Department of Electronic Evidence, said the department prepared 890 technical reports in the first quarter of the current year for the Dubai Public Prosecution. The department examined 6,352 electronic evidences, including computers, mobile phones, networks, videos, images and audio files. In 2014, the department prepared 2,687 technical reports for the public prosecution.

He said the Dubai Police have appointed a liaison officer to coordinate with the Interpol for monitoring and arresting cyber criminals based outside the UAE.

Maj-Gen Al Mansouri said the police are constantly developing its team of cyber cops. Currently, the force has 58 e-crime experts, of whom 45 received training abroad on the latest technology and techniques used by cyber criminals. -amira@khaleejtimes.com