Most of its victims are women who have been subjected to two sexual and physical threats

208 cases of electronic extortion have been recorded in Abu Dhabi since the beginning of the year

Al-Mansouri during his remote participation in the department's media forum.

From the source

The Judicial Department in Abu Dhabi revealed that, since the beginning of this year, 208 cases of electronic blackmail have been registered, most of which are women, who have been subjected to sexual threats from blackmailers and physical threats, in addition to the threat of committing a crime against them, noting that blackmailers threaten their victims after they obtain their personal photos. Or, audio recordings of them, or sexual videos, e-mail, and social media applications, and the department identified eight ways to avoid falling into blackmail, and four ways to report exposure to blackmail.

In detail, the chief prosecutor in Abu Dhabi, Abdullah Hamad Al-Mansouri, confirmed during a media forum organized by the department yesterday, remotely, under the title "Electronic blackmail ... facts and figures", that women are the most vulnerable to electronic blackmail, as they fall victim to the blackmailer because of fear and habits. Since the beginning of this year, the number of accused has reached 424, and the number of complainants has reached 349, of which 208 are cases related to electronic extortion.

He explained that the reason for the delay and the reluctance to inform the competent authorities about the incident of extortion is the victim’s fear that there will be a legal responsibility for him for committing infringing acts, pointing out that many victims avoid reporting crimes for fear of scandal and customs, which in some cases leads to facts. Assault from the victim to the perpetrator.

He pointed out that despite the availability of judicial channels to report these crimes confidentially and securely, the application of "Tell the Prosecution" receives complaints in a manner that guarantees confidentiality. He said that the age group most vulnerable to extortion is from the age of seven to 18 years, and that the average age group of perpetrators is from 18 to 25 years old.

He pointed out that the crimes of electronic extortion that were recorded by the Public Prosecution in Abu Dhabi come in the first place, among them crimes that targeted sexual threats, followed by crimes that targeted the physical threat, and in the third place threats to commit a crime or an act, whether that act was legitimate or unlawful, stressing that The threat, even if it is by a legitimate act, is a crime according to the laws in force in the country.

Al-Mansoori confirmed that the image threats come first in the crimes of electronic extortion, which the victims send to unknown people who have identified them through social media, or the perpetrator reached them by penetrating phones or social media accounts, while audio recordings and clips come in second place. Video, then email.

Al-Mansouri identified eight steps to avoid falling victim to blackmailers, including not trusting unknown people, not giving any personal data to them, avoiding being in video chats with unknown people, avoiding entering pornographic sites or suspicious sites such as dating and chatting sites, and not giving smart devices for maintenance except to an agent. Approved or trusted shops, in addition to not sharing personal data and information through social media sites, and strengthening the role of the family in guiding its children to the correct use of electronic programs and applications, not completely denying the use of those sites.

Punishment for extortion

The chief prosecutor in Abu Dhabi, Abdullah Hamad Al-Mansoori, said that electronic extortion is a threat to users of various information technology means, with the aim of obtaining material or moral benefit from them under the weight of that threat, indicating that the threat in some crimes is explicit, such as uttering phrases such as the threat to publish, kill or shame It may be an implicit threat, and the perpetrator uses a method of intimidating the victim, such as sending text messages with pictures containing threatening expressions.

He pointed out that the Emirati legislator described electronic extortion as a misdemeanor, and at the same time tightened his punishment to the penalty for a felony, if the threat was to commit a felony or to impose matters perverting honor and esteem, explaining that Federal Decree-Law No. (5) of 2012 in Article 16 of it, stipulated that “ A penalty of imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, and a fine not less than 250 thousand dirhams and not in excess of 500 thousand dirhams, or either of these two penalties, whoever blackmails or threatens another person to induce him to do or refrain from doing an act, using an information network or an information technology means And the punishment shall be imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years, if the threat is to commit a felony or to impose matters perverting honor and esteem.

430

A cybercrime case has been registered since the beginning of this year, and the number of accused has reached 424.

- “Abu Dhabi judiciary” identifies eight ways to avoid falling victim to blackmailers.

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