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Cybercrime

A cybercrime is a criminal infraction that uses the computer or network as the source, tool, target or place of a crime. The main types of cybercrime police investigate are:

Crimes against persons

  • Luring
  • Child pornography
  • Harassment
  • Extortion
  • Threats
  • False messages
  • Hate propaganda
  • Bullying
  • Defamatory libel
  • Suicide inducement

Crimes against property

  • Unauthorized use of a computer
  • Fraud
  • Computer virus 

The feeling of anonymity, the vulnerability of the potential victims, the wide field of action, as well as accessibility and constant improvements to technology provide an excellent breeding ground for Internet crime.

Offences under the Criminal Code of Canada

A new series of crimes appeared when computer use became so widespread. These "innovative" crimes did not exist before computers and the web were created, and they can only be committed in the virtual world.

The cybercrimes included in the Criminal Code of Canada include:

  • Falsely obtaining computer services
  • Illegally intercepting a computer function
  • Using or causing a computer system to be used with intent to commit the above offences or to commit misdemeanours toward a computer
  • Possessing or using a computer password for unauthorized use of a computer
  • Using the Internet to communicate with a child in order to commit a sexual infraction against that child
  • Producing, distributing, possessing or accessing child pornography online

If you have witnessed or been a victim of a cybercrime, contact Info-crime at 514 393-1133 or your neighbourhood Police station. 

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