UAE | Crime
Cyber-crime victim helps catch stalking suspect in Dubai
Most of the messages were asking her to have sex with him and to join him for clubbing, as he described himself as a "party animal".
- By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 July 18, 2010
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Social Networking is very useful, but users should be aware on the do's and don't's . It should be used wisely in accoradance with suitable purposes.
julia, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Facebook has been a widely known name among people who are so into it. People who have their account on Facebook are using more of their time to get in touch with other individuals despite the distance and lack of time. Facebook has been a great community for many people.but it has some disadvantages.More and more people.Long distance relationship weakening,Unsupported byphysical adjacency,Contributes wide-range,procrastination,Rampant addiction,Possible stalking, Acquaintances be labeled as friends. Certainly, the disadvantages are not a threat to you just by simply looking at it. A user must |realize what he is trying to give out otherwise things might get messy and people will mistake them as someone else. In spite of the Facebook advantages and disadvantages, it still is getting demand and popularity among the young people.Some are now trying to criticize the status of professionalism of this website whether its just another craze like other online networking services are.
Mathew Litty, Dubai, Afghanistan
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The Internet has radically changed the way we communicate. We can now interact with people across the world we may never meet in person. Bullying has always been a problem, and the Internet is not immune. All web users should be aware of cyber bullying. It takes many forms, from e-mailing mean statements to text messaging about someone behind their back. Online, bullies may be more aggressive than traditional bullies, believing they can remain anonymous. Most of the youngsters these days are very obessed with face book and they spent too much time on it. we have become so crazy and a big fan of facebook .There are certain Terms and Conditons that you need to adhere to and if you misuse it then you will fall in trouble for no doubt.
Mathew Litty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Social websites are good tools to keep in touch with family and friends. It reduces thousands of miles of distance by the power of sharing so easily. It is just like having your own webpage to share photos, notes, current happenings and staying connected to friends and knowing them even better. The sites are equipped with wonderful security and privacy features. One should know to use them. It is the same with emails, sms or any other tool of communication. In current case, the user just had to block the stalker and he wouldn't have even known if the user exists.
Adnan Shabbir, Sharjah, Pakistan
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I am information Security professional, seeing Dubai Police fighting with cyber crime in this manner is exciting and hats off to Dubai Police.
Adnan Ansari, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Not everything you read or hear is true. I was once part of a similar unfortunate event but as it turned out, it was the lady that trapped me, though it was not online but the lady complained and complained and when the truth was revealed, her motive was money. If all this was done via facebook, then there should be a record of everything that was said between the two parties. All respect to Dubai police for keeping us feeling safe and protected.
Anonymous, Dubai, Afghanistan
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Why punished? why arrested? no reason on this issue at least. this is not a cyber crime in any way. he didnt emailed her, no spamming, only messages on facebook. if the lady dosent want to receive messages she can block him simply.
Anonymous, sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Facebook is a wonderful networking site if the user is aware about the personal and security settings to avoid any sort of undesired harassment. Mainly for women who have facebook account to stay in touch with friends, relatives and school/college mates they should customise the personal and security settings i.e. who can send message, who can add them, who can view their posts/photos/videos, limit the search option to friends etc. Once the facebook account is customised than it is less vulnerable to all such undesired nuisance. Explore the menu of privacy settings and the user is less exposed to the world. It is more advisable to keep settings as customised and limited to those who are on friend's list alone. Any unwanted person can be removed from friends and/or blocked. Simple rule of thumb is to make self aware of what we are using to avoid making this virtual networking sites curse for us.
Rahul Thakkar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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A hefty fine and a community service punishment should be imposed at the least for such perverts. Cyber crime laws need to be made more stringent against these stalkers to teach them a lesson.
Sam, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Some people just spoil the name of their country! He should be punished for doing this cheap thing... this is good warning for all stalkers our there! Mr Q. T. you should be ashamed of yourself, you had kids!
Mansoor, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai: An alleged cyber-crime victim cooperated with police investigators to arrest her online stalker during an undercover operation.
Ami, 43, a businesswoman based in the UK who occasionally comes to Dubai to supervise her newly opened fashion shop says she lived a six-week nightmare when sexually explicit messages on her Facebook page kept on pouring in from an anonymous stalker called "Salu".
Most of the messages were asking her to have sex with him and to join him for clubbing, as he described himself as a "party animal".
"I ignored him for a while but he kept sending me messages and I threatened him I would go to the police. But he kept sending me vulgar messages," said Ami, who took an advice from an investigating officer to change her tone with him so that she could trap him.
On July 5 and while the alleged stalker was on a business visit to Dubai, Ami arranged a meeting with him at a hotel. While they were in the lobby, three CID officers were observing him and the alleged stalker was arrested.
"I am amazed by the professionalism and support from Dubai Police. They were constantly in touch with me even while I was at the UK and within less than 13 hours the stalker was arrested," she said.
According to her, she had to put an end to his harassment because "he will never stop unless he is punished. It is unacceptable for someone to treat anyone is this inhumane manner."
The alleged stalker, an American of Pakistani origin was detained for less than 48 hours and released on bail. His passport and a guarantor's passport are with Dubai Police until the investigation ends and the case is referred to the public prosecution.
The suspect identified as Q.T., 35, works for a leading international IT company in Saudi Arabia and is believed to have a wife and children living there.
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Ganem, Director of Bur Dubai Police Station, said the alleged stalker was arrested in an undercover operation. "The suspect confessed his crime against the victim. We are still investigating the matter and waiting for a report from the forensics before we refer the matter to public prosecution," he said.
An official from the Cyber Crimes Department of Dubai Police said the expansion of social network websites is helping to create more security loopholes as more victims are falling prey to cyber-crime. This is especially common among teenagers who take the opportunity to blackmail each other.
Late last year, a victim of an identity theft talked of her devastating experience after a comment was posted in her name on Facebook, saying that the severe typhoon that battered Manila is "deserved".
The 31-year-old marketing executive in Dubai was battered with thousands upon thousands of messages, emails, and phone calls about the comment that said: "It's a good thing I'm here in Dubai. There might be a lot of sinners back there Philippines. So, yeah, they deserved what happened."
This incident devastated Jacqueline, a Filipina, who had many sleepless nights and who was scared of being in public due to the threats and calls she was receiving.
Are you aware of the rules in place when it comes to networking security? How do you protect yourself in the virtual world? Have you ever come across a similar situation?
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