Cybercrime in Bangladesh doubles to 11.85% in one year, most victims women: Study
Among the cybercrime victims, 47.72% suffered social defamation, 40.15% experienced financial loss, and almost all were in mental agony
Cybercrime in the country has more than doubled to 11.85% in one year, with 59% of the victims being women, according to a new study.
The study carried out by the Cyber Crime Awareness Foundation (CCAF) reveals that social media and online account hacking make up the highest percentage of cybercrimes at 21.65%.
Released at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium in the capital today (29 June), the study report says the number of women victims of pornography related cybercrimes also surged.
The CCAF Cybercrime Trends-2024 report has been compiled using survey data from 132 victims during April 2023 to April 2024 period.
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It found one in ten victims are affected by pornography-related crimes and the number has been rising in the last five years. It shows a drop in the rate of cybercrime-affected children aged under 18 years to 13.65%.
Among the victims, the highest percentage, 78.78%, are aged between 18-30 years.
Nearly 47.72% suffered social defamation, 40.15% experienced financial loss, and almost all were in mental agony, according to the study.
Obaidullah Al Marjuk, the head of the CCAF research team, presented the research report.
Besides personal damage, experts noted that financial harm and temptations are prominent in cybercrimes.
However, these remain obscure due to social taboos.
Only 12% sought legal refuge, with 81.25% filing general diaries and 18.75% lodging written complaints. Among those who complained to law enforcement, only 12.50% found satisfactory outcomes.
According to the data, most victims affected by these scams are educated.
Around 40.90% of victims passed higher secondary, 21.21% are graduates, 16.66% passed secondary, and 12.87% are below secondary.
Alongside cyber literacy, the cybercrime experts have called for maintaining the country's cyber sovereignty through training and skill development to create indigenous cyber solutions.
BTRC's Director General (Engineering and Operations), Brig Gen Kazi Mustafizur Rahman, and Professor Dr Imtiaz A Hussein of the Department of Global Studies and Governance (GSD) at Independent University Bangladesh, among others, were present as panellists at the event.
