DoJ warns public about crimes on Internet

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DoJ) issued an advisory warning the public of crimes that can be committed over the Internet.

In its Advisory Opinion No. 5, the DoJ said that “since it is not possible to conduct constant surveillance over the millions of simultaneous Internet users, (they should) be aware of Internet crimes that they should guard themselves against.”

“For law enforcers to be able to focus their attention and resources to Internet crimes of serious gravity, the public should do their part in preventing other Internet crimes that are within their power to detect,” the DoJ advisory opinion stated.

The DoJ issued 10 pointers that the public should follow to prevent cybercrimes:

n  Parents have the responsibility to ensure that their children will not fall victims to Internet crimes.

n  Be ever-cautious and vigilant with private information.

n  Do not trust strangers you meet online.

n  Never part with your money online unless absolutely certain of the legitimacy and integrity of the transaction.

n  Be wary if an offer or advertisement seems too good to be true.

n  Utilize blocking or filtering software to protect children from harmful content.

n  Avail of free educational materials online that provide information on how to protect children from Internet crimes.

n  Consider using debit cards instead of credit cards when making online purchases.

n  Be circumspect in downloading and installing computer programs or even in clicking forwarded links.

n  Help law enforcers curb Internet crimes.

The DoJ noted that there are already laws that provide punishment for various Internet crimes.

However, the public should help law enforcers by being vigilant in the use of the Internet.

The DoJ’s advisory was issued a few days after the Philippine National Police (PNP) launched “Project Angel Net,” a 24/7 operation center and website aimed at fighting online sex predators and cyber bullies.

The website, www.cidgangelnet.ph, will serve as a complaint center where people can directly report incidents of child abuses related to the Internet.

In a 2010 study conducted by Internet security firm Symantec, entitled “The Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impart,” it was revealed that around 87 percent of Filipino Internet users have fallen prey one way or another to various kinds of malicious activities through the Internet.

The DoJ advisory noted that any incident of Internet crimes can be reported to the National Bureau of Investigation Computer Crimes Unit at 528-823 1ocal 3455 or the PNP Cybercrime Unit at 7261575.