Judge Asen Popov from the Criminal Department of the District Court – Varna and IT specialist Teodora Kozareva held a meeting with ninth graders from the Professional High School for Chemical and Food Technology “Dm. Iv. Mendeleev”. They introduced them to the dangers and risky situations on the Internet and social networks. They paid attention to the most common computer crimes – phishing, emailing malware, virtual identity theft and financial fraud. The meeting was within the framework of the educational program “Judicial Power – informed choice and civil trust. Open courts and prosecutor’s offices”. The High School of Chemical and Food Technology is one of the court’s partner schools this school year.
Judge Popov said that the District Court – Varna often deals with cases involving the use of a foreign payment instrument without the holder’s consent. Explain to the students that it is a crime both to pay and withdraw amounts with someone else’s bank card, without the owner’s knowledge, and to use its data online.
The IT specialist Teodora Kozareva pointed out that among the most widespread dangers on the Internet are the so-called phishing messages that aim to collect personal information, most often by sending an email (phishing), texting (smishing) or making a phone call (vishing). Ninth graders had the opportunity to watch a short film presenting the mechanism by which this crime is committed. They found out the most common tricks used in this crime and got tips on how to tell if a message is malicious. They were shown actual received fake emails claiming to be sent by institutions inviting payment of sums, as well as the small details that gave away that they were not genuine.
At the end of the meeting, Judge Popov and Teodora Kozareva advised the students to be cautious when sharing personal information on the Internet, to check messages and contact invitations sent by strangers, not to give in to calls for urgent action or blackmail, but in case of doubt about something embarrassing, to seek advice and support from someone they trust.
