Increase in Cybercrime and Financial Scams in the Online Environment

Since the beginning of this year, cybercrime and financial fraud in the online space have shown a worrying increase. This trend was highlighted by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Lyubomir Yosifov during a discussion at the Annual Meeting of Local Authorities, held in the resort complex “Albena”. According to him, 161 pre-trial proceedings have been initiated since the beginning of the year, related precisely to these crimes.

The Deputy Minister emphasized the key role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in ensuring the peace and security of citizens in the context of the upcoming introduction of the euro. Interaction with local authorities is essential for achieving this goal.

“We have the key role in this activity and we exceed that administrative framework that, in principle, puts us in the process, but the main thing is the prevention and counteraction of financial crimes, which is very important. We must react in such a way as to show that there is a transparent, secure, and reliable way to counteract this, that any moment of fraud or misleading of the public in this upcoming process should not be allowed”, said Yosifov. These words underline the determination of the department to prevent any abuse that could undermine public trust in the financial system.

Efforts to combat cybercrime include close cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the National Association of Municipalities, with an emphasis on informing vulnerable groups and residents of small settlements. According to the Deputy Minister, numerous meetings have already been held with employees from regional administrations, mayors, and mayors’ representatives to prepare citizens for the upcoming changes. Yosifov added that a good synchronization is observed with Bulgarian Post and the respective heads of regional directorates of municipal sanctions to ensure the smooth execution of future transfers of larger sums.

It became clear to the people present in the hall that efforts to combat cybercrime and financial fraud are a priority. More information about the methods and mechanisms used by the criminal world is available on the website of the General Directorate “Combating Organized Crime” and on the Facebook page of the “Cybersecurity” directorate.

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“We are creating all the conditions to show Bulgarian citizens that the transition to the euro is a national cause and we will take everything necessary to make this happen in an accurate and transparent way”, Yosifov concluded.