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29 March 2024

E-crimes on the rise: 81 cases this year

Published
By Mohammed El Sadafy

Electronic crimes are increasing with 81 cases reported so far in 2013, according to a top Dubai Police official.

Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police, at a recent lecture said, police has set up dedicated departments to tackle the rising e-crimes that are a result of the IT revolution and increased use of internet by the masses.

Maj-Gen Al Mazeina said 588 e-crimes were reported in 2011, while 772 cases were recorded last year. This is a massive increase from the 278 e-crimes reported in 2008 and 436 complaints reported in 2009.

In the first two months of 2013, 81 cases of e-crime have already been filed, he added.

Such crimes did not exist in the UAE till a few years ago. Now the police have created departments such as the Anti e-Crime Department, Anti-Financial Crimes Department, and the Department of Tourist Security in order to solve and contain e-crime cases.

One of the ways to restrict such crimes is by being more prudent. Maj-Gen Al Mazeina urged all financial establishments to use anti-hacking software to keep internet hackers at bay.

He also called on the public to log off and shut down personal computers after use so that unauthorized people would not misuse the system.

The police regularly update itself to keep up with the latest modus-operandi of e-criminals, he added.

He called on residents to report e-crimes to police.