Doha: As the digital evidence is subject to manipulation, the Ministry of Interior urged people to report quickly in case a crime occurs.
The Economic and Cyber Crime Combating Department must be informed about the crime directly through E-mail, phone, Metrash2 or any other channels. The penalty for blackmailing is prison not more than 3 years and a fine not exceeding QR100,000 or either of these penalties.
The cybercrimes include hacking, fraud of all kinds, threat and blackmailing, sexual exploitation of children, and spreading rumours.
This information was shared today during a webinar on the title "Cyber and Financial Crimes and Prevention Methods". The webinar was organised by the Cyber and Financial Crimes Prevention Department at the Ministry of Interior and attended by more than 200 people.
Cybercrime as defined by Qatari Law is any act involving the unlawful use of information technology or the internet, in violation of the provisions of the law.
About the motives for perpetrating cybercrimes, an officer from the Cyber and Financial Crimes Prevention Department said the motives include offence against countries, an offence against persons, external threat against state institutions, absence of geographical boundaries, and financial fraud among others.
The officer also shared information on the services offered by the Dept for the public, common types of cybercrimes, methods of combating cybercrimes, punishments for different types of cybercrimes as per Qatari penal code such as blackmailing, phishing, fraudulent messages, and cyber thefts and piracy.
He urged people that on falling victim to blackmailing, not to respond to the perpetrator at all, and block him from all communication and networking channels.
The webinar concluded with general instructions on methods of preventing cybercrimes such as securing online and social media accounts and bank cards, carefully dealing with unknown messages and anonymous calls, not sharing passwords, personal, and ID information with others.
