Experts expect online fraud to increase as Christmas approaches

In addition to the police, representatives of the Hungarian Banking Association, OTP Bank and the Victim Support Center of the Ministry of Justice also participated in the event.

Ágnes Sütő, co-project manager of CyberShield, Deputy Secretary General of the Hungarian Banking Association, reported that the CyberShield cooperation was launched two years ago with ten participants, their main goal being to draw attention to the dangers of cyberspace.

Experience shows that during online transactions and purchases, the “weakest link” is always the user: “we are the ones who open the door and let the criminals in” – she said.

He highlighted that cybercrime now affects our entire world; in 2018, fraudsters caused damage worth a trillion dollars worldwide, and the value is growing sharply every year. The targets of criminals include both companies and individuals, who, if they are not careful enough, can lose their entire wealth in an instant – he said, emphasizing that the danger threatens everyone, and according to experience, they most often harm elderly people.

László Sonjic, Senior Advisor to the Security Directorate of OTP Bank, said that it is a misconception that online fraudsters access customers’ money by hacking into financial institutions’ systems; in most cases, the users themselves provide confidential data that criminals can misuse.

Gabriella Diamantopoulosné Kenyeres, Head of Department at the Ministry of Justice, said that the ministry has been operating the 24-hour victim assistance line and centers for eleven years.