Head of the 1st sector (operational search and partnership in the field of information technologies) of the cybercrime countermeasures department in the Odesa region of the Cyber Police Department of
the National Police of Ukraine,
police captain
Due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in order to provide a worthy defense against the enemy in cyberspace and to boost the morale of the population, the Department of Cyber Police has created and supports the «MRIYA» project, which unites concerned citizens in the fight against disinformation and Russian propaganda on the Internet. Currently, the project has an official website and a Telegram channel called StopRussiaChannelMRIYA at https://t.me/+EbXZHBfHXbszY2I6.
More than 400 days have passed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. Have the directions of the work of the cyber police changed?
One of the main vectors of the work of the cyber police remains countering fraud on the Internet. However, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, scammers have mostly redirected their activities to the sale of generators, military equipment, aid to … phishing sites, which mostly create under the pretext of providing state aid, also remain popular.
How not to become a victim of scammers? What should you pay attention to that should cause suspicion?
In order not to become a victim of scammers, it is necessary to follow these rules:
- Buy and pay only on trusted websites, prefer payment on delivery.
- In case of purchase on the advertising platform, discuss the details of the transaction only in the chat of this platform and do not switch to third-party messengers.
- Verify the correctness of the name of the required website: after all, one unnoticed symbol on the address panel may mean that you have entered a phishing site.
- In no case disclose bank card details, as well as SMS codes from a mobile operator or bank that can be used to confirm payments. And in case of doubt whether a real bank employee is talking to you, contact the bank at the phone number listed on the back of the card.
- Also, a very simple but effective way to check the phone number / bank card number and website name in search engines on the Internet.
Where can a complaint / statement about a violation of the law be filed? What is the algorithm of actions?
Such facts should be reported to the units of the National Police of Ukraine. Or, for example, this can be done through a statement on the official website of the Cyber Police Department.
IPSs that are spread on social networks, should they be tracked?
I can say that we are not only tracking but also successfully combating them. The Cyberpolice Department has created and maintains the «MRIYA» project, which unites concerned citizens in the fight against disinformation and Russian propaganda on the internet. The project currently has an official website and a Telegram channel, StopRussiaChannelMRIYA https://t.me/+EbXZHBfHXbszY2I6. The channel is the main instruction and communication tool with subscribers, as well as a platform that receives information about fake hostile resources every day, which is verified by moderators and sent for blocking by concerned citizens.
What kind of help do Ukrainian cyber police officers currently lack from citizens?
It is important for citizens to remember that the information war continues. Therefore, it is necessary to resist Russian propaganda on social media every day. Everyone can become a digital soldier and make their contribution to our common victory without special knowledge and skills, thanks to the «MRIYA» project, which is a strong initiative in the fight against Russian occupiers in the media space. The biggest strength of our community is our subscribers, so join the fight on the information front! TOGETHER TO VICTORY! Glory to Ukraine!
Interview conducted by Oleksandr Syvak
