Of the 40 extortion cases registered in the Vitebsk region, in 38 cases the method of committing the crime was related to the use of the Internet

Currently, the information sphere is acquiring key importance for society and the state, and has a significant impact on the economic, political, and social processes occurring in the country. Therefore, it is necessary to pay increased attention to it and direct efforts towards preventing new crimes and offenses.

Thus, the growth of high-tech crime (hereinafter referred to as HTC) for the first 11 months of 2020 influenced the overall increase in the number of criminal offenses in the Vitebsk region as a whole - 2393 (994) high-tech crimes were registered, or +140.7%; nationwide, the growth was +123.6% (from 9023 to 20178 crimes). The main growth was due to crimes qualified solely under Article 212 of the Criminal Code - 2134 (723), committed by 288 (215) individuals.

A fundamental difference from 2019 is the commission of the overwhelming majority of fraud and extortion using the capabilities of the Internet. At the same time, there is an increase in the number of registered crimes committed using the global Internet, and a simultaneous decrease in the number of these crimes carried out as a result of direct physical contact between the offender and the victim. In particular, out of 40 registered extortion cases in the Vitebsk region, in 38 cases, the method of committing the crime was related to the use of the Internet. A third of registered fraud cases are also related to the use of Internet resources (hacking social media accounts, obtaining payment details on social networks, the "Kufar" marketplace, etc.).

Crime has moved into the high-tech sphere and requires the adoption of adequate measures aimed at preventing the methods of their commission, and conducting broader explanatory and preventive work with the population. The priority is the need to carry out preventive measures aimed at countering illegal actions using electronic payment instruments, and preventing the wider application of "social engineering" methods, whereby

criminals obtain citizens' personal data, their bank payment card data, and other data containing banking and personal secrets.

Taking into account the specified negative factors in the criminal situation, as well as to strengthen the counteraction to cyber threats in the banking sector, including illegal actions using electronic payment instruments and payment methods, on December 18, 2020, an interdepartmental meeting was held at the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, which considered the causes and conditions contributing to the commission of high-tech crimes.

The meeting was attended by the Head of the Main Department of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus for the Vitebsk Region, the management of leading banks – OJSC "ASB "Belarusbank", OJSC "Belagroprombank", which are the main issuers of bank payment cards, as well as representatives of law enforcement agencies of the region involved in this work.

Following the meeting, a decision was made on the need to jointly develop proposals for the implementation of additional measures to increase the security of personal data of individuals – holders of bank payment cards, improve the level of digital literacy of the population, and eliminate the causes and conditions conducive to the commission of crimes. An information note has been sent to the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

The implementation of the proposed measures is under the control of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, and an assessment of the effectiveness of the measures taken by law enforcement agencies and banking institutions will be given within the framework of the planned regional coordination meeting on combating crime and corruption in the Vitebsk Region in March 2021.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the Region
Natalia Kolpakova