In the first half of 2023, more than 50 percent increase has been witnessed in cybercrimes and electronic frauds, according to the Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigations Department at Sharjah Police Colonel Omar Ahmed Abu Al Zoud.
Omar Ahmed said that the first half of the ongoing year witnessed an increase in the number of reports submitted for cybercrimes, reaching 351 reports as compared to 117 reports in the same period last year.
The top official further said that electronic fraud topped these crimes, increasing from 11 reports to 60 reports in the same period.
About the “Be Aware” platform launched by the Departments of Criminal Investigation, Media and Public Relations to educate the public on fraud and electronic blackmail, he said that it represents a cyber corridor that includes six stations, each of which focuses on one of the methods used in electronic crimes that begin with electronic blackmail, then electronic hacking, leading to electronic games, which in turn is witnessing a large demand among young people.
