Crimestoppers
Fearless - our youth service
Cyber concerns
What are Cyber Offences?
Cyber offences are committed when someone is using a computer or other digital technology. There are two main types of cyber offences:
- Cyber-enabled crime
Cyber-enabled crime is where technology has been used to enhance another crime, like fraud.
- Cyber-dependent crime
Cyber-dependent crimes are those which are offences that can only be committed through the use of technology, where the devices are both the tool for committing the crime and the target of the crime.
‘Cyber Concerns’ for Professionals
If your student, child, or other young person you know, has an interest in computers and technology, it could be valuable to encourage them to develop their skills as cyber industry professionals are in high demand. Those with a real interest in how tech works could have a bright future ahead.
However, it’s important to have a discussion with them about using their skills legally and the consequences of becoming involved in cyber crime. Recognising and engaging with this interest may encourage them to follow the correct and legal pathway.
There are plenty of financially rewarding and legal careers available to them. These include coding, engineering, web development, penetration testing, security operations, law enforcement, legal hacking and many more roles in both the public and private sectors.
Cyber Choices
Do you work with young people? If so, do you have concerns about someone’s use of technology?
Then visit Cyber Choices for further signposting and to learn more about the UK’s Cyber Prevent Network, and why you might want or need to refer someone into them, and what that looks like as a safeguarding mechanism.
Cyber Prevent is a voluntary programme designed to realign those at risk of or already committing low level Cyber Dependant Crime (often without that person realising they are!) before their actions become too serious.
Click here for more information.
*please note this is not a part of Crimestoppers/Fearless and will take you to an external website.
Victim of cyber crime?
As Fearless is 100% anonymous, we are unable to take reports from victims of crime.
If you are aware of a young person who has been a victim of cyber crime please follow local safeguarding procedures and report it to the police.
You can also get more information, support and advice from Action Fraud.
