What is Cyber Crime?

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Cyber Crime refers to any criminal activity carried out using computers and the internet. 

With the rise of technology and the increasing reliance on digital communication, cybercrime has become a significant concern for individuals, businesses, and governments worldwide. 

Cyber Crime can take many forms, including hacking, identity theft, phishing scams, and cyberbullying. 

Hacking involves gaining unauthorised access to computer systems, networks, or data and can be done for various malicious purposes. Phishing scams are designed to trick individuals into providing personal information through fraudulent emails or websites.

To stay protected, individuals and organisations should take preventive measures such as using strong passwords, keeping software up to date, and being cautious of suspicious emails or websites. 

Cyber Crime is a growing threat that requires awareness and proactive action to mitigate its impact.

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Scams

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Scammers continuously seek new ways to steal your money.

It is surprisingly how simple it can be to fall victim to scams without even realising.  

Below are some of the commonly recognised scams...

 

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Black Mail Scams

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A blackmailer will attempt to scare you into sending them money by threatening to distribute private content from your computer or phone, or shared with them over an email, text, or social media which consequently may cause embarrassment to you.

They could request you send them money by means of direct transfer into an unidentified bank account or perhaps send it by using a mobile app, a gift card, or cryptocurrency. 

Occasionally scammers are unknown to you and other times they might unexpectedly be someone you met online and thought you could actually trust.

What to do if something untoward happens to you: 

Try to remain calm in spite of blackmailers intimidation or usage of high pressure tactics. 

Immediately cease any communicating with them and definitely never consider paying them. 

Keep all messages as evidence to help the police or other investigatory agencies.

Please always remember that you never need to deal with this on your own.

If you are a younger person, let a responsible adult you trust and know well of what is actually happening to you and let them help. 

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Charity Scams

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A charity scam is when a thief poses as a real charity or makes up the name of a charity that sounds convincing enough for you to give them money.

These scams have a tendency to increase during selective times throughout the year, at holiday season as well as after natural disasters and emergencies, such as storms, wildfires, or earthquakes. 

Be careful when a charity calls to ask for donations, especially ones that suggest they are following up on a donation pledge you do not even remember making. 

Also, look out for scammers that try to get you to donate by using live streaming on social media platforms, altered images, or images or voices generated by artificial intelligence (AI). 

They will typically ask you to send the money online, often using crypto currency, this ensures they can get your money more promptly. 

What to do in this situation: 

Ask for detailed information about the charity and what their serving purpose is, including their registered charity number, address, phone number and email address.

Look up the charity through the charity commission, their own website or even trusted third party source to confirm that the charity is legitimate. 

 

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Debt Collection Scams

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There maybe instances where approved debt recovery agencies or their assigned collectors might contact you to collect on a legitimate debts you owe. 

Though, be cautious as there are scammers who will pose as these individuals to get you to pay for debts you do not even owe for.

Also, be on the lookout for those who may choose to threaten you with criminal charges. 

There are very few circumstances where a debt can actually lead to an arrest. 

A legitimate debt company or collector should not claim that they will have you arrested for non compliance if you have any doubts or challenge them.

What to do in this situation: 

 

Ask the debt company or collector for accountability by providing their full company name, registration details, postal address, contact number or email address and precise information about the actual debt they claim you owe for. 

 

Should you find the debt company or collector refuses to provide you with accurate information about your debt or is trying to collect a debt you genuinely do not recognise existed.

Do not engage in further communication with them until you can verify their legitimacy and the debt itself.

Try to do this by contacting the original source of the claimed debt such as the utilities company or organisation they are acting on behalf of who can enlighten you further and explain as to why the debt exists and requires payment. 

Remember scammers can easily forge documentation to make it look from an official source so, never go solely upon this and follow through with appropriate checks.

Only once you know what you need to contend with the paying of a debt then act upon it and comply with either a full / part payment or agree upon payment plan to the debt company or collector or if possible the originator of the debt. 

 

 

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The Grandparents and Relatives Scam

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Should you get a call from someone who sounds like a grandchild or relative asking you to transfer money to them or send gift cards to help them out of a troubling situation, it could well be a scam. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made it much easier for scammers to clone voices and alter images to make it seem like someone you know actually needs your help. 

This type of scam is designed to play on your emotions without you realising.

It is among those commonly used to specifically target people with more vulnerability such as the elderly. 

 

What to do if you think you maybe in this situation: 

 

Beware of a caller who insists on secrecy and contact your relative yourself to verify the story is of legitimate need.

 

If you are unable to reach them, try to get in touch with them through another trusted person, another family member, or their close friends. 

 

Never proceed with the carrying out of any transactions involving transferring money over should you have any hesitation to them being genuine.

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The sale of non - existent goods or services scams

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Scammers use mobile payment apps to trick people into sending them through money or merchandise without holding up their end of the deal. 

As an example, a scammer may offer to sell you difficult to obtain concert or sports tickets, or a puppy or other pet, but then never actually give them onto you. 

Or, a scammer might purchase an item from you, appear to send through a payment, and then retract and cancel it before it reaches your bank account.

What to do if you are in this situation: 

 

Never send money onto someone you are not confident is reputable.

 

If you think you have made an unintended payment to a scammer, immediately contact your bank or the company you used to transact the money through immediately and alert them that there may have been an unauthorised payment that has happened or likely to.

 

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The money mule scams

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A money mule is someone who receives and moves fraudulently obtained money. 

While some money mules know they are assisting with criminal activity, others are not aware that their actions are helping fraudsters.

Money mules may be recruited through online job or social media posts that promise easy money for little effort. 

They may also agree to help a love interest who they have met online or over the phone, by sending or receiving money as part of a romance scam.

What to do if you are in this situation: 

 

Do not agree to receive or send money or packages for people you either do not personally know or have never met in person.

Also, be aware of jobs that promise easy money, especially if it involves sending or receiving money or packages.

Do not ever open a bank account or cryptocurrency account especially when is knowingly going to be put in someone else’s direction. 

Do not send money to an online love interest, even if they send you money first as that may just be a ploy to get yours. 

Do not pay in advance to collect a prize award or send through to someone money out of your winnings.

 

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Man in the middle scams

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Man in the middle scams are a type of cyber attack where a scammer tricks you into connecting to a fake network or website, or clicking on a fake QR code, text or email link, or attachment. 

Once you do this, unknowingly to you the scammer can see your every move and steal your personal information like account logins and passwords, financial data, or other sensitive personal information. 

These scammers can also impersonate another person you maybe communicating with like your agent in a mortgage closing scam so, that you think you are sending a payment through to the person you know, when in reality you are going to be sending it onto the scammer.

What to do in this situation: 

 

Try to avoid unsecured public wireless networks and free charging port stations in public places which may potentially increase your risk.

Never click upon a unrecognisable QR code or link nor download any unidentified attachments in unsolicited texts or emails you may receive. 

Carefully examine email addresses and website URLs, even if they appear to be from someone you actually know. 

Before sending money, verify that the person you know is the one actually requesting it and that you have their correct payment information prior to doing any transaction.

Always look for secured transaction motifs (like a padlock or shield) which indicates increased online safety involving the receipt of a payment. 

Try also, to use recognised secure payment companies such as PayPal where traceable accountability for your transaction is made. 

Certain credit card companies offer protection against fraudulently taken scammed transactions. 

 

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What Is Cyberbullying?

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Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like mobile phones, PCs, laptops and tablets. 

It can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content.

Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. 

It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. 

Some cyberbullying crosses the line to the extent it is unlawful or criminal behaviour and needs police or statutory agencies investigation.

The most common places where cyberbullying can occur are:

• Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok.

• Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices.

• Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet

• Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit.

• Email.

• Online gaming communities.

 

What can be done should you become a victim?

 

Being cyber bullied can make you feel helpless, but there are effective steps you can take to protect yourself and seek help.

The most important thing to do is to talk to someone you trust as soon as you realise that a problem exists, be it in an educational or professional environment.

 

How should I react to cyberbullying?

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• Choose to ignore it.

• Do not respond to minor teasing or name calling.

• A lot of bullies are encouraged by seeing your reaction to their inappropriate and sometimes harmful actions.

• Keep an accurate record of incidents. 

• Keep a record of bullying messages you receive in a hard copy for reference if needed.

• This will help assist any police or statutory agencies investigating your concerns at a later stage and them having sufficient evidence to take appropriate action if required to prevent further occurrences.

• Reach out.

• Never allow cyber bullying to overpower your quality of life.

• There is no reason whatsoever to suffer alone when you are the target of bullying and it is of vital importance to confide in professional bodies who will help you.

• Cut off any viable connection to the bully.

• Try to cut off all forms of communication with the bully as best you can. 

• You may be able to block their phone number so you no longer receive their calls or texts. 

• If that’s not possible, you might consider changing your phone number with your mobile phone service provider.

• If you explain your reasons for needing to change your number, there should be no charges occurred although you may be required to provide them with a reported crime reference number.

• Facebook and Instant Messenger providers allow you to block other users so that they can no longer interact directly with you.

• If for some reason it is not possible to block a cyberbully, you can always screen their calls and delete their messages without having the need of opening them.

• Go high-tech.

• If you’re being bullied via a specific website or social media host, chances are that the bully has breeched the terms and conditions of usage. 

• Reporting bullies to the administrators may get them removed from completely using the hosted site. 

• On Facebook and YouTube, some of the most popular sites for cyberbullying activity, you can report cyberbullying incidents to the sites safety centers for investigation.

• Your own internet service provider, mobile phone service provider, or content provider can also provide effective methods to investigate and stop cyber bullying. 

• In some cases, the providers can look into the bullying incident to uncover an anonymous bully and may also be able to take down offensive posts rather than you engaging in this. 

 

What should I not to do if Cyberbullied?

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• ­Never choose to sink to the same level as your cyber bully. 

• Starting your own cyberbullying campaign against the bully will get you absolutely nowhere, especially if you as a consequence end up breaking the law yourself.

• Never forward on bullying content or messages. 

• If someone sends you a bullying message, forwarding it onto a friend only will expand the problem and cause potential harm. 

• You never know precisely how far an email chain can go back.

• Never believe that the bully is rightful. 

• Never let bullies destroy your own self-esteem. 

• No one deserves to be harassed or victimised by another. 

• Cyberbullies are cowardly and often tend to be rather destructive in their actions.

• Often it is more about their own personal problems than they are about you.

• When bullying gets you down, never feel you need to be suffering alone and openly talk about it with someone you trust and can confide in who can build you back up.

• The police and other statutory agencies will provide you with any help and support needed and to overcome the problems you were experiencing.

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                                                                                      Identity Theft

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If your identity is stolen, you can lose money and may find it difficult to get loans, credit cards or a mortgage. 

Just simple identity information such as your name, address and date of birth provide enough information to create another ‘you’. 

 

An identity thief can use a number of methods to find out your personal information and will then use it to open bank accounts, take out credit cards and apply for state benefits in your name without you realising it has actually happened until such a time a problem is noticed or someone contacts you regarding a financial transaction or similar you have no awareness about.

 

What are signs that I should look out for?

 

There are a number of tail tail signs to look out for that may mean you are or may become a victim of identity theft.

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• You have lost or have important documents stolen, such as your passport or driving licence.

• Mail from your bank or utility provider does not arrive as expected.

• Items that you do not recognise appear on your bank or credit card statement.

• You apply for state benefits, but are told you are already claiming.

• You receive bills or receipts for goods or services you have not actually asked for.

• You are refused financial services, credit cards or a loan, despite having knowledge of a good credit rating.

• You receive letters in your name from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that you definitely know for certain are not yours.

 

How do I reduce the risk of identity theft?

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• Store any documents carrying personal information such as your driving licence, passport, bank statements, utility bills or credit card transaction receipts in a safe and secure place like in wall / floor safe or registered deposit facility.

• Shred or destroy your old documents so that nothing showing your name, address or other personal details can be taken. It is not too expensive to purchase an electric shredder or hand held ink roller stamper that deletes completely over your personal information so it is not readable.

• Monitor your credit report and regularly check your credit card and bank statements for suspicious activity.

• When you move house, contact your bank, credit and store card providers, mobile phone provider, utility providers, TV licensing, your doctor and dentist etc, and give them your new address. You do not want the new tenants to have access to letters containing your personal information so, consider redirecting your mail by contacting The Royal Mail.

• Remember, less is more. The less information you give away about yourself, the lower the risk of information falling into the wrong hands and being inappropriately used against yourself.

• Think before you buy online. Always use a secure website which displays the company’s contact details, look for a golden padlock symbol and a clear privacy and returns policy. Check the web address begins with https.

 

What can I do if I become a victim of identity theft?

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If you think you are a victim of identity theft or fraud, act promptly to ensure you are not liable for any financial losses.

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• Report all lost or stolen documents, such as passports, driving licences, credit cards and cheque books to the organisation that issued them immediately.

• Inform your bank, building society and credit card company of any noticeable unusual transactions upon your statement.

• Request a copy of your credit file to check for any suspicious credit applications.

• Report the theft of personal documents and suspicious credit applications to the police and ask for a crime reference number.

• Contact CIFAS (the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service) to apply for protective registration.                             

• Once you have registered you should be aware that CIFAS members will carry out extra checks to see when anyone, including you, applies for a financial service, such as a loan, using your address.         

• Similarly,  you can report your identity theft to Action Fraud - The UK national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.