Hacking, financial fraud or identity theft, via social networks or email
Incidents of cybercrime, such as dealing with breach of privacy (hacking), financial fraud or identity theft, via social networks or email, concerned the majority of requests regarding the reasons for contacting the Helpline 1480, during the 4th quarter of 2023, according to with the statistics announced by the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute (PIK).
Among other things, he notes that it was observed that vigilantes via the WhatsApp communication application call unsuspecting citizens to a video call, falsely pretending to be communicating on behalf of the Police or appearing provocatively, making indecent movements. For this reason, he says, the public is asked to be extra careful and not answer video calls from unknown numbers.
The Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus, of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, as the coordinator of the Cyprus Safe Internet Center and the Helpline 1480, announced the update statistics for the 4th quarter of 2023 (October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023).
According to the data, from October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, a total of 740 people contacted Helpline 1480. Out of the total number of calls, 564 calls (76.2%) related to hotline services, while 176 calls (23.8%) were not related to the services provided and related to information, among others, about benefits and aids of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance etc., is mentioned.
Regarding the reasons for contacting the Line, it is noted that the majority of requests related to incidents of cybercrime (405, 71.8%), that is, dealing with a violation of privacy (hacking), financial fraud or identity theft, via social networks or email. At the same time, it is intended, a significant percentage of requests (61, 10.8%) related to issues that fall under the category of technical support.
A smaller percentage (31, 5.5%) involved incidents of sexual extortion (sextortion) and also a "significant proportion" (26, 4.6%) involved incidents of cyberbullying.
On the other hand, 2.1% (12) of calls involved data privacy complaints, specifically cases of callers' information being used to create accounts or callers' material being made public by other users without their consent.
Also reported as "noteworthy" this quarter was the 2.1% (12) of calls involving incidents of non-consensual sending or receiving of sexually explicit images and/or texts via mobile and other devices (NCSII). These incidents related to cases in which non-consensual personal intimate content was sent to third parties, including minors, it is reported.
In relation to the total number of incidents involving the services of the Helpline 1480, 63.8% (360 persons) were women/girls and 36.2% (204), were men/boys. Regarding the profile of the people who called for help and support, the majority of them were adults (553, 98%). A small percentage (11.2%) were minors and contacted the 1480 Helpline to report personal difficulties on the Internet, such as cases of cyberbullying. It is also noted that only 4.9% (27) of calls from adults were made by parents/guardians and teachers and related to online difficulties for teenagers on the Internet.
It is noted that the Helpline 1480 aims to provide counseling and support services to children and adolescents, young people, parents, teachers, and the wider community, regarding safe, responsible and ethical use of the Internet and digital technologies.
It is also stated that Helpline 1480, "aiming at the continuous and quality provision of advice and support, in real time, by trained Officers, in matters related to the safe, responsible and ethical use of the Internet, to children, /adolescents and their families', continues to provide its services, with the basic principle of ensuring that its services are consistent with National Law and are interwoven with the aspect of awareness and prompt service.
All citizens can contact the Helpline 1480 by calling, anonymously and free of charge, the number 1480 (opening hours: Monday – Friday, 9.00 – 13.00 & 15:00 – 18:00, and Saturday 10:00 – 13:00 ), either by sending an email to the address 1480helpline@cyearn.pi.ac.cy, or via an online form on the website https://www.cybersafety.cy/helpline-report.