Greater Manchester Police is launching a new campaign to warn people of the potential of becoming a victim of crime on the internet.
Beginning today “don’t get trapped in the web” focuses on cybercrime in general but also draws on four crime types – child sexual exploitation, sextortion, fraud and human trafficking – warning people to be careful when using the internet.
Cybercrime is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK, affecting both businesses and individuals. It includes a range of cyber-dependent (crimes which can only be committed online) and cyber enabled (crimes which can be conducted on or offline) crimes.
GMP recorded 9,972 cybercrimes between the beginning of April '14 and end of May '16. The most common types of cybercrime in Greater Manchester are fraud and harassment, with the biggest increases being seen in blackmail, harassment and child sexual activity.
Detective Chief Inspector Danny Inglis said: “The online world is changing every day with new apps and websites creating new risks for anyone using the internet. People are using online sites more and more every day to buy products, meet people and keep in touch with loved ones and the risks are increasingly apparent.”
“By encouraging individuals and businesses to question their online behaviour and identify potential risks before they become a victim of cybercrime we hope to make people aware of the consequences of such crimes and encourage reporting.”

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