On February 26, a seminar titled “Prevention of Internet Fraud and Extortion” was held at Karaganda Industrial University with the participation of law enforcement officers. The event was dedicated to a highly relevant topic — online safety, protection of personal data, and the prevention of financial and other types of online crimes that both students and staff face on a daily basis.
Internet fraud is a form of criminal activity carried out
through the use of online technologies, aimed at obtaining users’ money,
personal data, or other material assets through deception. Such crimes may take
the form of phishing websites, fake offers to purchase goods, phone calls from
individuals impersonating officials, as well as extortion schemes in which
offenders demand money transfers under threat of consequences. These schemes
are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are often designed to exploit
users’ trust and insufficient digital literacy.
Law enforcement specialists provided detailed information
about the most common online fraud methods and explained the techniques of
social engineering, in which criminals use psychological pressure to obtain
confidential information from victims. Examples were given of fraudsters
calling or sending messages on behalf of banks, government agencies, or even
relatives in order to gain access to banking details and other sensitive data.
Special attention during the seminar was given to online
extortion — cases in which threats, blackmail, or intimidation are used to
force users to transfer money or disclose valuable information. Representatives
of law enforcement agencies explained how to recognize such threats, what
actions should be avoided in these situations, and how to respond if a person
has already become a victim of a criminal scheme.
During the meeting, participants received practical
recommendations on ensuring their online safety:
— not to share personal data, passwords, or bank card
details with third parties;
— to critically assess messages and phone calls,
especially those requiring urgent action or money transfers;
— to verify the credibility of websites and sellers when
making online purchases and avoid suspicious links;
— to immediately report suspicious contacts or fraud
attempts to law enforcement authorities and banks.
Online security is not only about device protection
technologies but also about the vigilance of every user. Awareness of key
threats and prevention methods helps protect oneself and others from
irreversible consequences.
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