DIRECTOR OF Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Dr. Herbert Gustav Yankson, has indicated that Ghana has lost a whopping $97 million to cyber crimes as at August 2018.
He made this known recently whilst addressing students at the Tamale Senior High School, saying cyber crime was affecting the economy of Ghana and that efforts must be put in place to bring the menace under control.
Dr Yankson advised the students to be careful of the type of friend requests they accept on social media especially on Facebook. The gravity of the cyber crime, he said, has compelled the Ministry of Communications to embark on Regional Sensitization Awareness Campaign among stakeholders and the youth in Senior High Schools.
He urged students to use passwords to protect online accounts to prevent people from accessing their accounts without their consent admonishing them to keep their passwords secret.
Dr. Yankson emphasised the need for everyone online to be aware of the risks of cyber attacks and called on the students to be careful about online dealings.
He discouraged students from sharing critical information with strangers online including nude pictures, location and daily activities.
Dr. Yankson mentioned the direction to pornographic sites, cyber bullying and online fraud as some of the treats children using the internet are exposed to.
He enlightened teachers and students on the importance of Cyber Hygiene practices to help them from falling victim to internet predators and to ensure a safe digital Ghana.
BY Melvin Tarlue