While Internet users are rising, the number of cyber crimes is also seeing a surge. Most of these are Facebook based with many experiencing ID hacking. In addition, there are e-mail ID hacks, fake IDs, sextortion, mobile banking fraud and other harassment.
As per the Cyber Security and Crime Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, in 2018, they received 1765 direct complaints. Apart from that they also got 6300 other complaints. In 2019, the number has risen to 2932.
Of the complaints, 53 percent came from men while 47 percent from women. Deputy commissioner of cyber security and crime AFM Al Kibria said, “The pattern of crimes is changing. With rising use of information technology, crimes will also rise.”
Police say that at present more than 30 million people use Facebook in Bangladesh and most users cannot ensure security of their accounts. They also share intimate photos with friends. Hackers get hold of those and then blackmail the careless user.
Apart from that, hackers also target non government organisations. In case of hacked accounts that do not have intimate images, the accounts are returned in exchange more money.
Fake IDs are usually made out of personal enmity. Meanwhile there are countless incidents of fraud in mobile banking.
One group defrauds gullible people by offering supernatural help for personal problems.
Sources say that most of those linked to cyber crime are young.
Specialists have said that while the government has made Internet easily available, it could not take enough steps to ensure cyber crimes.
Cyber specialist and assistant professor of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology, Tanvir Hassan Joha says, “We still don’t have a national policy on digital forensic; our labs are not enough and the police are unskilled. Therefore, they cannot give enough proof at court.”
India has a Facebook editing panel but such a facility is absent in Bangladesh; as a result, in India, apprehending a harasser on Facebook is swift, he added.
The skills of the police need to be raised and punishment through cyber tribunals, added Zoha.