IC: Against the background caused by coronavirus, there is an  increase in cybercrimes

ArmInfo.  In the summer of 2020,  IC: Against the background caused by coronavirus, an increase in  cybercrimes is observed. This was announced by Sasun Grigoryan, senior  investigator for particularly important cases of the Main Directorate  of the RA IC for the investigation of cybercrimes and crimes in the  field of high technologies, at a July 10 press conference.

Grigoryan informed that, due to the coronavirus, citizens have  limited their physical contacts and spend more time on the Internet,  which increases the potential risk of becoming a victim of  cybercrime. As noted, the current situation is also used by  cybercriminals who have concentrated their forces in this direction.   This applies, in particular, to various cyber fraud schemes,  including through phishing sites.

According to Grigoryan, if 118 criminal cases related to cybercrime  were investigated in the RA Investigative Committee in 2019, then in  the first half of 2020 their number was 94. As was noted, the  recorded figure for the current year may also be associated with an  increase in circulation citizens to law enforcement. 

The investigator emphasized that many cybercrimes remain in the  shadows, and hundreds and thousands of victims do not turn to law  enforcement agencies.  Meanwhile, as was emphasized, an ordinary  citizen, without the help of the relevant units to combat cybercrime,  is not able to independently solve the problem of cyber fraud.  

According to Grigoryan most often, in Armenia there are cases of  cyber fraud, where criminals mislead citizens to obtain passport or  bank data, or require transfers of funds to online accounts for  providing any service. At the same time, cybercriminals are focusing  on citizens with social or financial problems who are looking for  easy ways to receive money. This may be, for example, ads on social  networks on the issuance of loans or on resolving issues with poor  credit history. Moreover, as analysis shows, in order to enter into  trust, cybercriminals use their intellect and knowledge in  psychology.  

In this regard, the expert advises not to transfer your passport and  bank data to strangers, and carefully double-check the information  about the company that promises to solve financial problems. Another  tip is not to repair your smartphones and computers in unfamiliar  places, especially if their user has not logged out.  

Grigoryan also informed that there are no criminal cases in the IC  where minors became victims of cybercrime. This is due to the fact  that this category of citizens does not have bank accounts, as well  as passport data that fraudsters can use for their own purposes (for  example, to get a loan or make payments through online payment  systems).