Digital ambassadors dedicate themselves to digital resilience of residents of The Hague
Since the start of the corona crisis, the number of cyber-attacks on companies and individuals has increased. Last year alone, more than 3,000 reports of cybercrime were made by residents and organisations in The Hague. During the National Safety and Security Week, residents and entrepreneurs will go into the neighbourhoods as 'digital ambassadors' to hang posters. Ambassador Guido: "I am happy that I can help my neighbours to increase their cyber resilience’’. In the weeks to come, many more posters are hung and the ambassadors will visit sports clubs, care homes and schools to hand out flyers. There are also plans to organise informative sessions at various schools.
Cybercrime deserves extra attention
Deputy Mayor Saskia Bruines: "Hackers are increasingly able to infiltrate the digital networks of companies and residents. They run the risk of losing large amounts of money by a simple click on a phishing mail. In cooperation with the police unit The Hague, we therefore started working with digital ambassadors last year. I am extremely pleased to see that there are now almost twenty ambassadors active who are committed to increasing awareness of cybercrime among residents and entrepreneurs in The Hague."
Vincent Stittelaar, cybercrime specialist of the police unit The Hague: "Crime affects all of us and we are therefore jointly responsible for combating it. As police, we want to prevent citizens and entrepreneurs from becoming victims of cybercrime. This way, together with the municipality The Hague and the ambassadors, we contribute to a safe(r) digital Netherlands."
Digitaalveiligindewijk.nl
The digital ambassadors give tips and advice on prevention of cybercrime to residents of their neighbourhoods. Neighbours and entrepreneurs in these neighbourhoods can also approach them with questions about their digital safety. For example, how best to secure your mail or how to recognise a fake message. Recently, the ambassadors also build a website: www.digitaalveiligindewijk.nl. It contains the ambassadors' contact details, an overview of the activities and useful websites where the latest cybercrime reports can be found.
Ambassador activities
Ambassadors are active in their neighbourhoods. For example, this weekend the ambassadors from the neighbourhood Wateringse Veld are present at a repair cafe at a children's farm. Here, residents can ask their questions about cybercrime, for example about WhatsApp fraud. Also, a number of ambassadors has recently participated in interactive theatre performances about cybercrime in Loosduinen, Escamp and Segbroek. During these performances, organised by the Caribbean Angels Foundation, everyday situations concerning cybercrime were made discussible.
Questions about cybercrime?
Do you have a question for a digital ambassador from your neighbourhood or do you want to know when one of the activities takes place? You can find this information on www.digitaalveiligindewijk.nl
