How to Educate Young Girls About Cybercrime Risks on Social Media

Introduction:

The cybercrime threat is increasing in today's digital world, and young girls are among the most vulnerable victims. Cybercriminals are identifying more sophisticated ways to target and exploit young girls, from online harassment to sextortion. My experience as a criminal lawyer specializing in cybercrime has allowed me to understand the devastating effects of these crimes firsthand. In this blog post, I will share some insights into this silent epidemic as well as a few case studies to shed light on it.

Cyber Civil Rights Initiative research indicates that over 90% of young girls have experienced online harassment, and 53% have experienced some form of sexting. These statistics are alarming and highlight the urgent need for greater awareness and protection of young girls.

Many factors make young girls particularly vulnerable to cybercrime when it comes to cybercrime, including their tendency to share personal information online, either willingly or unwittingly. Additionally, they are less likely to recognize warning signs of potential danger and may be more trusting of strangers they meet online.

A cybercriminal may also target young girls based on their vulnerabilities in order to take advantage of them specifically. For example, individuals who pretend to be their age may become involved in online relationships with individuals who later discover that the individual is in fact an adult with malicious intent. They may also be targeted by scammers who use tactics such as fake job offers or modeling opportunities to trick them into sharing personal information or sending money.

A case study will demonstrate the severity of the problem. Mili, an 18-year-old girl, used social media for several years before receiving a message from someone claiming to be a model agency scout. She was promised fame if she sent them pictures of herself. Mili, who aspired to be a model, readily accepted.

Over the following few weeks, the person gradually began to request more and more explicit photographs. They threatened Mili with the release of the photos that she had already sent if she did not submit more. She felt trapped, and she was too scared to inform anyone of what was happening. Mili was terrified.

Mili was subject to relentless cyberbullying and harassment as a result of the person following through on their threat and posting Mili's photos online.

Taking Shubha's case as an example, she was the victim of online identity theft at the age of 21.

A strong social media presence, with thousands of followers on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, had led Shubha to receive an email one day from a person claiming to be a talent agent. The individual enthusiastically requested Sarah's personal information, including her full name, address, and social security number, as she was eagerly awaiting the opportunity.

Shubha noticed some strange activity on her bank account over the next few weeks. Someone had opened several credit cards using her personal information, and she had amassed thousands of rupees in charges. Also, she received threats from the individual who claimed to be a talent agent, which instructed her to send money or else he would release compromising photographs of her that he had allegedly obtained using deepfake computer technology and morphed.

Besides losing a significant amount of money, Shubha felt violated and unsafe. She was concerned that the photos the individual threatened to reveal might ruin her reputation, and she felt powerless to take action.

Mooja is a 21-year-old college student who's active on social media. One day, she receives a friend request from a man named Amar who claims to be a student at another college. After accepting the friend request, Pooja starts chatting with Amar, who appears friendly and charming.

Pooja and Amar exchanged phone numbers over the next few weeks, and later, Amar sent Pooja a link to a website that he claimed to be a college student forum. When Pooja clicked on the link, she was prompted to enter her login information. Unbeknownst to Pooja, the website is a phishing website intended to steal her login information.

After obtaining Pooja's login credentials, Amar begins logging into her accounts and obtaining her personal information. He posts inappropriate content to her social media accounts and sends messages to her friends, damaging her reputation. He also has access to her financial accounts and steals her money.

Once Pooja realizes what has occurred, she becomes increasingly anxious and distressed. She seeks advice from a trusted friend, who recommends that she report the incident to the authorities and change all her passwords immediately. Pooja follows this advice as well as taking steps to protect her online privacy and secure her online accounts.

Pooja learns from her experience that she should be cautious and vigilant online. She realizes that not everyone she meets online has the best intentions, and that it is important to protect her personal information and identity online.

As a result of this case study, young women who use social media are exposed to the risks and consequences of cybercrime. The report emphasizes the importance of taking proactive measures to protect oneself against cyber threats as well as educating oneself about online safety.

Action steps for raising awareness:

Young women should be aware of the signs of cybercrime, including unsolicited messages, requests for personal information, and threats of blackmail or extortion. In addition, they should take into consideration their online interactions when accepting friend requests from strangers.

Seek Support: If a young woman feels like she has become a victim of cybercrime, she should seek support from trusted individuals such as family members, friends, or a counsellor. The importance of seeking help cannot be overstated, and some professionals can provide support and guidance.

Report the Incident:

Women and young girls should understand that they have the right to report cybercrime and that authorities take it seriously when it is reported to them. It is important to report the incident to the authorities to protect the victim and prevent things like this from happening in the future.

Accounts that are secure online:

Young women should use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and be aware of their online privacy settings to safeguard their online accounts. This will prevent hackers from accessing personal information and blackmailing them.

Provide education to others:

Educating young women about cybercrime and how to stay safe online is essential to preventing similar incidents from occurring to others.

It is important for young women to understand the warning signs of cybercrime, seek support, report incidents, secure their online accounts, and educate others in order to prevent and address incidents of cybercrime.

Seeking Legal Help for Cybercrime Victims

The importance of seeking legal assistance from a qualified professional cannot be overstated if you or someone you know has been victimized by cybercrime. You can seek help from a criminal lawyer who specializes in cybercrime to understand your rights and options, as well as to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Moreover, there are steps you can take to protect yourself against cybercrime, including being cautious when sharing personal information on the internet, using strong passwords, and being aware of suspicious emails and messages.

Conclusion

The threat of cybercrime is significant for young girls and other vulnerable populations. Taking steps to protect yourself can help you minimize your risk of becoming a victim. If you find yourself the victim of cybercrime, do not hesitate to seek assistance from a qualified legal professional who can advocate for you.