Abu Dhabi: Cybercrimes affecting the UAE have caused millions of dirhams of financial losses over the past year, with 2013 looking even more dismal, according to computer experts.
More than 1.5 million people in the UAE were affected by internet scams last year, costing a total of $422 million (Dh1.55 million), an industry expert previously told Gulf News.
These crimes have become more conspicuous in the Middle East as adults are relying on their mobile devices more than ever, a study by Symantec said.
The 2012 Norton Cybercrime Report released in September of last year revealed that two in five mobile users in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region have fallen victims to mobile cybercrimes. Symantec defined these crimes as responding to unsolicited SMS text message that capture personal details and mobile phones that automatically send unwanted text messages without notifying users, among others.
“I was contacted by a person claiming that he was from a telecommunications company telling me that my number won in a raffle for Dh20,000,” said R.N., who works as an accountant at a local maintenance firm. “He gave me the company’s physical location and a false name and designation. He even played the company’s official tune when he put me on hold. He asked me to deposit Dh500 to a bank account in order to release my award and after I did so, I never heard from him again.”
Experts recommend that individuals refrain from responding to such requests unless they are certain of the source. “People usually blindly click on links that they receive through social networking websites and instant messaging applications,” 37-year-old systems engineer Motaz Abusin told Gulf News. “They often do not know the source of the content they are viewing as these links are often very cleverly disguised.”
Experts suggest that antivirus software might reduce the possibility of getting spammed or hacked by 70 to 80 per cent. “Although many major e-mail service providers have built in software which automatically detects suspicious e-mails and directs them to the junk mailbox, this method may not be completely effective. Often times, users may receive an e-mail which contains a link,” Abusin said. “Upon clicking that link a user might give the hacker an opportunity to access all their future credentials including credit card information and passwords.”
According to the study, nearly one in four mobile device users in the Mena do not always download products from trusted sources.
Meanwhile, 29 per cent of respondents said that they do not use secure methods of payment when making online purchases from their mobile phones. This leaves such sensitive information vulnerable to theft, the study suggests.
In addition, 28 per cent of people admitted that they do not use passwords to protect their personal data, which in the event of theft or loss can cause great personal damage.
“I think that many people believe that they are not a valuable target for theft because others may be more of public figures who possess more power, financial assets and other benefits,” said Ahmad Zendaqi, a 22-year-old business graduate. “But in reality, I believe we are all equally vulnerable to cybercrimes. This is why whenever I receive calls or text messages asking me for personal information, I always ensure that the source contacting me is legitimate. While it may not be an easy task, it certainly will prove effective once it is done.”
