ArmInfo. On September 12, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan held a meeting with the staff of the Department for Combating Cybercrime at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia, according to the press service of the law enforcement agency.
Vardan Vardanyan, Head of the Main Department of the Criminal Police and Deputy Chief of Police, presented the overview of cybercrimes recorded in the republic this year and the efforts to combat them. them. Hayk Mkrtchyan, Head of the Department for Combating Cybercrimes at the RA Police Headquarters, presented the work done by the department. Based on operational information received by the department, 3 criminal groups were identified incvolved in computer thefts through fake investment platforms. Eighteen individuals were charged by the investigative body. Approximately 740 million drams of damage caused to the state have already been recovered.
As a result of studies, monitoring of open sources on the Internet and telecommunications applications, a group of individuals was identified. They used Telegram accounts to purchase citizens' passport data, electronic phone numbers, electronic wallets, gaming accounts, and personal accounts of mobile applications from banking companies operating in Armenia. They managed these accounts to commit computer thefts and frauds through phishing websites. The identities of 49 individuals operating 62 channels involved in the illegal sale of drugs via Telegram have been revealed. As a result of searches conducted within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated based on the factual information received, a large amount of drugs and ammunition were discovered, and 3 individuals were arrested.
The Cybercrime Department currently continues to work closely with several leading international companies, as well as 24/7 national contact points of the member states of the Convention on Cybercrime. This cooperation ensures the process of exchanging operational data via a direct channel, electronic evidence from various criminal proceedings and information on newly emerging types of cybercrime. Also, the Cybercrime Department has continued to strengthen cooperation with international partners and major companies in the information technology sector. The Minister of Internal Affairs expressed gratitude for the work done and highlighted a number of directions and gave instructions.
Arpine Sargsyan emphasized the importance of expanding the cooperation with international partners, other law enforcement agencies and police services. The importance of working with international cryptocurrency companies to combat cybercrime and corruption crimes was noted. The need for close work with mobile operators was stressed, instructing to put the partnership on an institutional basis. Arpine Sargsyan also touched upon the creation of the Cyber Laboratory, towards which work is currently being carried out with international partners.
In order to prevent crimes, the Minister instructed to activate awareness-raising activities aimed at increasing citizens' legal awareness, as well as to create a Telegram platform through which citizens will be presented with the mechanisms of criminal activity and the rules of conduct for avoiding them. Issues related to the regular development of the capabilities of the department's employees, as well as software and technical equipment, were also discussed.
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