Cyber crime cases doubled due to public negligence and lack of awareness, says Commissioner

Cyber crime cases reported in the first six months of this year have doubled compared to the same period last year, largely due to public apathy and persistent gaps in awareness, Police Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed said on Sunday.

October is observed worldwide as Cyber Security Awareness Month. In a message marking the occasion, the Commissioner said that while technology has made life easier, the dangers of the digital environment are expanding rapidly. As a result, individuals, businesses and government institutions are increasingly exposed to cyber threats, he said.

The Commissioner noted that as daily life becomes fully digital, it also creates new avenues for fraud and crime online, risks that can only be mitigated through immediate action by both the public and institutions.

“Unfortunately, the fact is that in the first six months of this year alone, the number of cyber crime cases reported to the DSP has doubled compared to the same period last year, with 68 percent of these cases committed through social media,” he said.

He added that criminals are now using generative AI to produce fabricated messages and media to deceive the public. “When we look at similar cases filed with the police, each of them features negligence due to lack of awareness and careless action, clicking unauthenticated links, sharing personal information and secret codes like one-time passwords, and trusting without verifying who you are communicating with online,” the message said.

The Commissioner said various programs are already underway to strengthen police capacity, enhance investigations and raise public awareness by equipping officers with modern digital-forensics resources. He stressed that the safety of the online environment can only be ensured through responsible behaviour by the public.

He advised people to use strong passwords, avoid sharing sensitive information such as OTPs, and urged businesses to maintain secure IT systems and ensure employees are aware of online threats.