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Prompt reporting of cybercrime is crucial to successfully proving the offence or mitigating its impact, an official from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has said.“When a fraud or a cybercrime occurs, the speed of reporting the incident is an important factor in the success of the evidence-gathering process as digital evidence is subject to loss and manipulation,” said First Lieutenant Adnan Hasan al-Rashed of the MoI’s Economic and Cyber Crimes Prevention Department. “As soon as the crime has happened or you are a victim of a cybercrime, you should immediately report it to the concerned department, which is the office of the Cybercrimes Prevention Department.”He was speaking Tuesday at a webinar organised by the MoI’s Public Relations Department on the topic of “Cybercrimes and Methods of Prevention”.The webinar discussed various cybercrimes, including hacking, fraud of all kinds, threatening people and blackmailing them, sexual exploitation of children, and spreading rumours.Al-Rashed said that when such a crime takes place, people can report it in various ways.“However, the best option for the public to raise a complaint is by visiting the office of the department and report it personally, especially in case of a fraud involving huge amount of money,” he stated. “Other methods of reporting through e-mail or Metrash can be applied in case of minor crimes.”Al-Rashed noted that in case of an economic crime involving bank accounts, there are some procedures to be followed.“In such cases, the person has to first go to the bank and take a report about details of the account from the bank,” he said. “It should be sealed and signed by the bank.”“(Then) approach the MoI department along with the document,” the official continued. “The most important thing in raising a complaint related with the cybercrime is the immediate action taken by the victim.”As for blackmailing through various social media channels, al-Rashed advised victims not to respond to the perpetrator at all and block the person from all communication channels.“In such cases, the economic and cybercrime prevention department must be informed directly through the available reporting channels, such as e-mail, phone, Metrash, or by representing personally to initiate investigation,” he said.“Most important thing: if a person becomes a victim of blackmail, he should not respond to the offender at all and block him from all networking channels,” al-Rashed emphasised. “Sometimes the offender will be asking for many things which may lead to many other complications.He said that people should always be extra vigilant while using online communication channels.“It is important to have strong passwords for all the online accounts, including personal accounts in banks as well as social media accounts,” the official said. “There should be continuous backups of the systems, and they should be updated periodically.”“It is also important to have multi-factor authentication as it ensures extra security through a two-step verification process,” he added.“Additional security measures should be set up in the e-mail, such as phone number and a backup e-mail which can help to recover the accounts as well as to track the offender,” al-Rashed said. “Furthermore, people should not open links from untrusted sources.” 

His Excellency Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, and Acting Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), John Brandolino, officially inaugurated the new training premises of the UNODC Regional Center for Combating Cybercrime in Doha Tuesday.The center is located at the new headquarters of the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lusail.The opening ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Director of the International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikha Hanouf bint Abdulrahman al-Thani, and Director of UNODC Doha Center, Mustafa Artin, alongside a number of officials.Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, HE al- Hammadi stressed that Qatar gives foremost priority to fostering partnerships with UN organizations, stemming from its unflagging commitment to backing global efforts aimed at achieving criminal justice and combating all kinds of cyber crimes.He asserted that the center represents a substantial enhancement to upgrade global capabilities in this domain.For his part, Mustafa Artin emphasized that he is grateful for the support Qatar is providing to establish and operate this center, stressing the importance of this move following the ratification of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, which was signed in Hanoi, Vietnam, last October.He pointed out that Qatar was among the first countries to sign the convention.The inauguration is the product of the Qatar-UNODC ongoing collaboration and enhancement of shared global efforts to combat cybercrime and support nations' capabilities in confronting this growing global challenge.In essence, the center provides advanced training programmes, as well as technological support for nations and law enforcement agencies alike, alongside its role in supporting the implementation of this convention, reinforcing international cooperation and advancing the legislative frameworks supporting efforts to combat cyber threats.The inauguration further underscores the role undertaken by Qatar on the global stage in terms of combating cybercrime, alongside its establishment of an effective model for capacity building and strengthening multilateral cooperation to ensure and safeguard the security of the digital space. 

Qatar signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime during an official ceremony held Saturday in Hanoi, Vietnam, with broad international participation.The Convention was signed on behalf of Qatar by HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad.In a speech during the ceremony, HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation said that the adoption of the UN Convention against Cybercrime represents an important turning point in the international system and reflects a collective will to protect the security of peoples in the digital space, noting that cybersecurity is no longer merely a technical issue, but has become a pillar of international peace and security.She further said that Qatar was among the first to support the development of a comprehensive agreement based on international cooperation, protecting infrastructure, and strengthening national capacities, especially in developing countries. She noted that the agreement fills a gap in the international legal system and enables countries to work together to confront cyber threats that affect human security and the stability of societies.Combating cybercrime is an act of peace, Her Excellency said, noting that protecting the digital space contributes to preventing conflicts, building trust, and supporting dialogue between countries.From this standpoint, she added, Qatar's commitment to cybersecurity aligns with its established role in mediation, building bridges, and promoting peaceful solutions. Just as Qatar works to resolve conflicts in the real world, it also strives to prevent conflicts in the digital realm, believing that true peace encompasses all dimensions of human life.She noted the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Combating Cybercrime in Doha, which will contribute to capacity building and strengthening international cooperation, particularly in serving developing countries, in preparation for the implementation of this Convention.Her Excellency affirmed Qatar's commitment to being a reliable international partner in building peace and protecting security, in both the real and digital worlds, out of its conviction that protecting human beings and preserving their dignity is the essence of all security and peace.The Convention is the first UN criminal justice treaty adopted in more than 20 years, and the first global treaty on cybercrime and the exchange of electronic evidence related to serious crimes.