Public
urged to report scams, cyber crime
An example of fraud scheme using text messaging. The public are advised to
report any suspicions on cases of fraud relating to financial crime. Picture:
BT/Jefrisalas
Rachel Thien
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Monday, April 19, 2010
DESPITE having
recorded 15 cases of fraud relating to financial crime during 2008-2009, with
the most common being via text messaging, many people were still reluctant to
report suspected scams or contact the police for advice on suspicion of being a
victim of fraud, a senior police officer told The Brunei Times on Friday.
Senior Investigation Officer P/ASP Ak Omar Ali Pg Hj Manshor at the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Commercial Crime Investigation Division assured The Brunei Times that all public calls made to the division were confidential and that the public should not be afraid of contacting them to report any suspicions of fraud schemes.
He explained that if a person believes he or she is being targeted by a text messaging or email scam, the division could only give advice on how not to fall prey to the trap, unless he or she had already fallen victim to it.
"The public can always call our division for advice pertaining to fraud or cyber crime. It is better to talk to us first no matter what, before lodging a police report," Ak Omar Ali said.
He explained that people who had fallen victim to a fraud should lodge a police report at the nearest police station.
Only after the report had been filed can the division investigate the matter.
"First off, we will interview the complainant and gather details of how the scam came about. If we track the source of the scam to a foreigner, then we will seek assistance from Interpol," he said.
However, Ak Omar Ali said there were challenges in pursuing investigations abroad. "Jurisdiction is one of our challenges, because different countries have different laws," he said.
The senior investigation officer added that the division may not be able to continue an investigation, depending on the law in the countries involved.
Most of the time, the senior investigation officer said, perpetrators were foreigners who did not reside in the Sultanate. "That is why people should be aware of receiving text messages from (foreign) numbers, and not respond to them. This also applies to receiving emails from people they are not aware of," he added.
Ak Omar Ali advised the public not to simply open up "junk emails", as there have been foreign reports of perpetrators who have "stolen" information from the receiver's computer, upon (the receiver) clicking on an icon in the junk email.
Also, he advised parents to monitor what websites their children were visiting, stressing on the importance of awareness.
Similarly, Senior Counsel at the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) Ahmad Jefri Rahman said the cheapest and potentially most effective way of fighting text messaging and cyber fraud was by increasing public awareness so that people are not as vulnerable in falling prey to the scams.
"Prevention is the best cure," he said, adding, "The message to give everyone is to just avoid being a victim of cyber crime."
Ahmad Jefri explained how the public should not underestimate the impact of public awareness, and that it should start with students at schools. "Anyone who has knowledge on these things can provide the awareness," he said.
The Commercial Crime Investigation Division currently has five trained personnel, including Ak Omar Ali, who have been specifically trained to combat cyber crime and fraud.
For adviced about fraud and cyber crime, contact the Criminal Investigation Department at 2232001-7 ext 818, from 8am to 4.30pm, Mondays to Fridays and Saturdays.The Brunei Times.
Senior Investigation Officer P/ASP Ak Omar Ali Pg Hj Manshor at the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Commercial Crime Investigation Division assured The Brunei Times that all public calls made to the division were confidential and that the public should not be afraid of contacting them to report any suspicions of fraud schemes.
He explained that if a person believes he or she is being targeted by a text messaging or email scam, the division could only give advice on how not to fall prey to the trap, unless he or she had already fallen victim to it.
"The public can always call our division for advice pertaining to fraud or cyber crime. It is better to talk to us first no matter what, before lodging a police report," Ak Omar Ali said.
He explained that people who had fallen victim to a fraud should lodge a police report at the nearest police station.
Only after the report had been filed can the division investigate the matter.
"First off, we will interview the complainant and gather details of how the scam came about. If we track the source of the scam to a foreigner, then we will seek assistance from Interpol," he said.
However, Ak Omar Ali said there were challenges in pursuing investigations abroad. "Jurisdiction is one of our challenges, because different countries have different laws," he said.
The senior investigation officer added that the division may not be able to continue an investigation, depending on the law in the countries involved.
Most of the time, the senior investigation officer said, perpetrators were foreigners who did not reside in the Sultanate. "That is why people should be aware of receiving text messages from (foreign) numbers, and not respond to them. This also applies to receiving emails from people they are not aware of," he added.
Ak Omar Ali advised the public not to simply open up "junk emails", as there have been foreign reports of perpetrators who have "stolen" information from the receiver's computer, upon (the receiver) clicking on an icon in the junk email.
Also, he advised parents to monitor what websites their children were visiting, stressing on the importance of awareness.
Similarly, Senior Counsel at the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) Ahmad Jefri Rahman said the cheapest and potentially most effective way of fighting text messaging and cyber fraud was by increasing public awareness so that people are not as vulnerable in falling prey to the scams.
"Prevention is the best cure," he said, adding, "The message to give everyone is to just avoid being a victim of cyber crime."
Ahmad Jefri explained how the public should not underestimate the impact of public awareness, and that it should start with students at schools. "Anyone who has knowledge on these things can provide the awareness," he said.
The Commercial Crime Investigation Division currently has five trained personnel, including Ak Omar Ali, who have been specifically trained to combat cyber crime and fraud.
For adviced about fraud and cyber crime, contact the Criminal Investigation Department at 2232001-7 ext 818, from 8am to 4.30pm, Mondays to Fridays and Saturdays.The Brunei Times.
IN JAPAN:
Japan Criminalizes Cybercrime: Make a Virus,
Get Three Years in Jail
Read more: http://techland.time.com/2011/06/17/japan-criminalizes-cybercrime-make-a-virus-get-three-years-in-jail/#ixzz205M79mvz
@graememJune
17, 2011
Read more: http://techland.time.com/2011/06/17/japan-criminalizes-cybercrime-make-a-virus-get-three-years-in-jail/#ixzz205MZmpON
Read more: http://techland.time.com/2011/06/17/japan-criminalizes-cybercrime-make-a-virus-get-three-years-in-jail/#ixzz205MZmpON
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Japanese
authorities have had enough of spam emails and viruses, and decided that
there’s only one way to deal with them: Jail time.
Admittedly, that’s not the only option for those falling
foul of the criminalization of computer viruses, nor for the sending of
pornographic spam emails; prison can be avoided if you can afford fines of
anywhere up to 500,000 yen (around $6,200).
(PHOTOS: A Brief
History of the Computer)
A bill
was passed earlier today by the Japanese House of Councillors that makes creation
or distribution of a computer virus without reasonable cause punishable by up
to three years in prison, and acquisition or storage of a virus punishable by
up to two years.
The new laws will also allow data to be seized or copied
from computer servers connected to any computer seized during an investigation,
as well as giving authorities the right to request that ISPs retain
communication logs of parties under investigation for up to 60 days.
This is the third time similar legislation has been presented
for approval; earlier attempts in 2003 and 2005 were defeated due to concerns
around clauses that some believed criminalized even conceiving a crime.
The passing of this legislation allows Japan to join the Convention on
Cybercrime, an international treaty allowing co-operation on criminal
matters committed online, which has been in effect since 2004 with 31 other
countries participating so far.
Related Topics: Convention on
Cybercrime, House
of Councillors, japan,
Misc, web,
