BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Participants were reminded to remain vigilant against various scam tactics, including lucrative job offers, attractive prizes and suspiciously easy loan offers during the ‘Cybercrime Awareness’ briefing by the Cybercrime Investigation Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Royal Brunei Police Force, as part of the Belait District Information Literacy Programme organised by the Belait Branch of the Department of Information.
Chief Inspector Adinin Ahmad, delivering the briefing, highlighted two major issues that commonly target youth: online scams and the misuse of bank accounts or SIM cards as ‘money mule’ accounts.
They were also reminded that handing over their bank accounts or SIM cards to other individuals is a criminal offence that may result in investigation, prosecution and legal action, even if it was done with the intention of helping someone.
The participants were also advised to always conduct checks before making any transactions or sharing personal information. Doubts regarding online scams should be referred to the Anti-Scam Helpline 16993 for advice and verification.
The programme was attended by youth aged between 15 and 35 and aimed to raise awareness and strengthen young people’s knowledge of the increasingly prevalent threat of cybercrime, while encouraging them to be more vigilant in protecting themselves when using digital platforms.
Through programmes such as this, the Cybercrime Investigation Division, together with the Department of Information, will continue to strengthen public education and awareness efforts to foster a digitally literate and responsible society, particularly among youth, and to prevent them from becoming victims or unwittingly becoming involved in cybercrime. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
