How to File a Complaint:
The number of fraudsters online is continuously increasing. Various groups are committing fraud using different methods, trapping many individuals and causing social, financial, and familial distress.
Cybercrimes include: : Fraud, Theft of personal information, Data breaches, Computer viruses, System hacking, Online threats.
Such crimes are punishable by fines and imprisonment.
In our country, most victims of cybercrime do not or cannot bring the offenders under the law. Due to a lack of knowledge about cybersecurity laws and the process of seeking legal assistance, many—both men and women—fail to file complaints.
Let’s explore how someone who falls victim to cybercrime can properly file a complaint with the appropriate authorities and where to file it.
Ways to Contact the Police to File a Complaint:
- Nearest Police Station: You can initially file a complaint at your local police station.
- Police Cyber Support for Women (PCSW): Send a message to the Facebook page Police Cyber Support for Women (PCSW).
- Email: Send your complaint to cybersupport.women@police.gov.bd or cyberhelp@dmp.gov.bd.
- Phone (Police Headquarters): Call 01320000888 to report your complaint.
- Emergency Hotline: Dial 999 to file a complaint.
- Address: Dhaka Metropolitan Police Headquarters, 36, Shaheed Captain Monsur Ali Sarani, Ramna, Dhaka.
How to File a Complaint?
- If you fall victim to cybercrime, it is crucial to file a complaint as soon as possible.
- Ensure you have evidence to support your complaint. This may include screenshots, links, audio/video files, or related documents.
- When taking screenshots, make sure the URL in the address bar is clearly visible.
- If filing a complaint via email, attach these pieces of evidence and upload them with your message.
- You can also seek advice from the officers at the Cyber Crime Unit for guidance, which can help you take appropriate legal action.
Above all, to ensure the reduction of cybercrimes through the Digital Security Act, it is essential to raise greater awareness about it among the public. Legal services related to these issues must also be made more accessible to ordinary people. Otherwise, grand-sounding laws will remain confined to paper and serve no practical purpose.