AS ADVANCES in information and communication technology (ICT) continue to make phenomenal strides impacting everyone on the planet, ICT-related crimes have also increased making individuals vulnerable to attacks and frauds.
This is why the Anti-Cybercrime Group, a special unit created by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2013 to address the proliferation of “high-tech” crimes, has reiterated its call to those who were defrauded or victimized through the use of the ICT to come forward and report these incidents so proper action could be taken.
“We have an easier and more convenient avenue today because of technology. There are social platforms that our citizens can report to. In this way, Raco-10 [Regional Anti-Cybercrime Office-10] can receive reports and act upon it immediately,” Superintendent Reynante Reyes, Raco-10 concurrent chief, said in a statement emailed to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Thursday.
The ACG-10, which operates under the supervision of the Raco-10, was organized on October 8, 2013 through the orders of Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, ACG national chief, and is located inside the PNP-10 headquarters at Camp Vicente Alagar, Barangay Lapasan.
The Anti-Cybercrime Group has been tasked to go after persons who are committing ICT-related crimes.
Computer crime, or more commonly known as cybercrime, refers to any misconduct that involves a computer or with the use of an online network, for instance, the so-called “sexploitation.”
The ACG-10 has noted cybercriminals take advantage of anonymity through the internet with the use of computer or other electronic devices, using it either as an accessory in committing an offense or as target of the ICT-related wrongdoing.
“Because almost all people in the world today use computers, there is that great chance that people will get victimized of these cybercrimes. The global community is very much aware about this and countries have been trying to seize these criminals. Unfortunately, cybercrime knows no cyber borders thus making things challenging to the international law and national law and enforcement,” Reyes said.
Reyes said citizens who are victims of cybercrimes can report to Raco-10’s official mainstream social networks such as Twitter (@npacgrdfl10) and Facebook (PNP-Anticybercrime Group 10).
Detailed reports can also be sent through their electronic mail account: 10rdfl.emfu.acgroup@gmail.com.
“The public should be alarmed of these no-joke crimes. They may be done virtually, but still they are crimes,” he added.
Last year, ACG-10 has proven that although it is a newly-created law enforcement unit, it is serious and capable in arresting and filing charges against people who commit cybercrimes.
According to Inspector Janice Peniola, ACG-10 deputy chief, 2014 was the year the group really fulfilling its mandate as they were able to file a series of appropriate legal actions and even arrested one person.
Job online fraud
The apprehended individual posed as a recruitment officer and posted a job hiring online and was able to victimize an applicant, who responded to an advertisement posted on a website.
Sued for allegedly violating various offenses, including violation of the RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, RA 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 and the Revised Penal Code, was a British national who was believed to have hacked the website and e-mail account of his former business partner.
Also charged were a group of suspected scammers who allegedly defrauded a few business owners who were sold fake products worth millions of pesos through transactions using electronic devices.
Peniola said that from January to December 2014, ACG-10 received and recorded 94 cybercrime complaints, 15 of which were filed in court.
To strengthen its law enforcement capabilities, Reyes had organized the ACG-10 advisory council last year consisting of representatives from the local government unit, media, academe, religious and business sectors.
In a previous interview with this paper, Reyes said the inputs of the council members are important in improving ACG-10’s performance so it can become a better law enforcement agency.