The Attorney General of the Republic, Hélder Pitta Gróz, expressed concern on Tuesday, in Luanda, about the significant rise in citizens engaging in cybercrimes, particularly in the last quarter of this year. Speaking at the opening of the II National Conference on Cybercrime in Angola, which concludes today, Hélder Pitta Gróz stated that the high rate of cybercrimes constitutes a paradigmatic case of transnational organized crime, originating from companies that appeared to engage in legal activities.
As an example, he highlighted the dismantling of a criminal network involved in the exploitation of illegal online gambling games, known as “Games of Fortune or Chance,” with branches in three continents, with the central base of the criminals located in Luanda.
Hélder Pitta Gróz also mentioned members of these groups, some of whom have already been arrested, who were engaged in cryptocurrency mining, an act criminalized by Law No. 3 of 2024, which prohibits this activity as it facilitates money laundering.
The senior magistrate revealed the arrest of a citizen involved in a criminal group that used remote and legitimate access to citizens’ and companies’ bank accounts, infiltrating banking systems through the so-called “social engineering” technique.
This technique, he explained, allowed fraudulent transfers of large sums of money into the accounts of their accomplices, with some cases currently under investigation by the judicial authorities.
According to the Attorney General, the significant increase in cybercrimes demonstrates that cybercrime is becoming a serious issue in the country, calling for strict action in combating this phenomenon effectively.
In light of the rising number of cases, the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) partnered with the organization of the National Conference, recognizing that the initiative contributes to curbing cybercrime by disseminating technical knowledge and extracting “best practices” for more effective approaches to fighting the phenomenon.
Creation of the Cybercrime Office
Hélder Pitta Gróz mentioned that in response to the threats posed by cybercrimes, the PGR created the Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence Office, which has been assisting legal bodies in their actions. The PGR established the “Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence Unit” within which all provincial and district prosecutors are included.
The purpose of creating this office, he added, is to ensure the monitoring of cybercrime cases in the country, facilitating their resolution and creating a platform for exchange between Public Prosecutor’s Office magistrates.
Furthermore, Hélder Pitta Gróz stated that in the past two years, the PGR coordinated a multilateral technical group representing the country in an Ad hoc Committee established by the United Nations General Assembly, tasked with drafting a convention to prevent the use of information and communication technologies for criminal purposes.
According to the Attorney General, this work led to the approval of the Ad Hoc Convention on Cybercrime project in August 2024, which will be submitted for final approval in December of this year, to be signed and ratified by the country. This will allow Angola to have an international instrument for combating cybercrime by 2026.
Hélder Pitta Gróz emphasized that cybercrime presents ongoing and urgent challenges, stressing the importance of cooperative mechanisms, such as the Budapest Convention, which he sees as a useful tool, potentially serving as a “safe harbor.”
Source: Jornal de Angola
