The year 2020 was one of the most wasteful ones in modern history, dominated by repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t any different for Pakistan where a months-long lockdown brought life to a standstill. Markets were crashed, businesses were destroyed and millions of people were left jobless.
The prolonged leisure resulted in an increase in internet consumption, prompting misuse of the facility. As per the unofficial data, the year saw a record surge in cybercrimes, cyberbullying in particular, also called cyber-harassment or online harassment.
Earlier this year, the Digital Rights Foundation had recorded a 189 percent increase in cyber-harassment complaints during the lockdown. Many of these included complaints of hate speech, harassment, blackmailing, phishing, fake profiles, and defamation.
However, many digital activists believe that the number of registered cases does not represent ground realities because a large number of women refrain from reporting them, either due to slackness or due to lack of awareness.
If you’re in the second category, I can walk you through the easy process of registering harassment complaints online. But, before going into the step-by-step guide, let’s wrap our heads around the concept of cyber harassment.
What is Cyber Harassment?
By definition, cyber harassment is when someone uses the Internet to threaten or make unwanted advances towards someone else. This sort of harassment can cause physical, emotional, and psychological damage to the victim. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has a special wing – The National Response Center for Cyber Crime or NR3C to deal with all kinds of cybercrimes.
What Kind of Complaints Are Entertained by NR3C?
The NR3C FIA can entertain the following category of complaints:
- Un-Authorized Accessed (Physical Information system, digital data, personal Identity)
- The email hacking, Fake id on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus)
- Online Fund Transfer Fraud through the bank, ATM, Easy paisa, U-paisa, Time pay, or any other online fund transfer facility
- Impersonation and defamation on social media ( Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus)
- Cyberbullying, cyberstalking and blackmailing, etc.
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How To Report Harassment Online?
While many of us refrain from visiting police stations or FIA office for reporting such crimes, registering them online is rather doable. So, if you are still unaware of how to report cyber harassment online, here is how you can do it following these simple steps:
- Visit their website (http://nr3c.gov.pk/creport.php)
- Fill in all required details. While you can skip the unimportant ones, filling in the information with (*) on it is a must, i.e., full name, CNIC number, phone number, postal address, and crime details.
- Review all provided information before hitting the “Submit Complaint” button. Don’t forget to tick the box with a statement that says: “I affirm that all the information I have provided on this form is correct to the best of my knowledge.”
How to Register Complaint Via Email
You can also send your complaints (written application with your complete credentials) through email at this address: helpdesk@nr3c.gov.pk
How Does It Work?
- After receiving the complaint with proper and complete information, FIA Helpdesk will reply to your email by assigning Cyber Crime Helpdesk Number (CCHD) within 24 hours.
- Your complaint will be sent to the Cyber Crime Circle zone for further inquiry and verification purposes.
- Once the process is completed, the action will be taken accordingly.
- You can contact on 051-9106384 or mobile no: 03366006060 for any query against your complaint and update progress.
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