The Netherlands is to launch a multi-year campaign that will be tasked with increasing the digital resilience of its citizens through the reduction of cybercrime and online fraud.
This was confirmed by Franc Weerwind, Minister for Legal Protection for the Dutch Government, in response to questions submitted by Mirjam Bikker of the Christian Union, Michel van Nispen of the Socialist Party and the Christian Democratic Appeal’s Anne Kuik.
As the issue of combating social engineering became central to the discussion, Weerwind was first tasked with addressing reports that influencers defraud victims of thousands of euros via Telegram by helping to promote fake sports results.
“This message is about influencers who would encourage their followers to commit criminal acts, the message is not about gambling addiction,” he commented.
“Young people are allegedly being scammed with the promise of being able to make quick money by betting money on sports competitions, the outcome of which, according to the scammers, has already been determined.
“…the central government will start a multi-year campaign program to increase the digital resilience of Dutch citizens”
Adding: “The influencers mentioned in the message are said to be advertising scammers who can be contacted via Telegram. There are no indications that the scammers actually manipulate competitions.”
The so-called manipulated results, he noted, are purchased from the scammers on Telegram and paid for via cryptocurrency in a bid to remain anonymous. It was added that the scammers “appear to be very difficult to trace”.
However, he was quick to highlight that there isn’t any indication that matches have actually been rigged, with the focus instead having to be placed on the recognition of online scams and preventing victimisation.
“Based on the integrated approach to online fraud, various public and private organisations are focusing on the resilience of citizens against online fraud,” he continued.
“An important intervention in this regard is combating social engineering. With social engineering, fraudsters take advantage of human characteristics such as fear, greed, curiosity, trust and ignorance to defraud victims (of money).
“This autumn, the central government will start a multi-year campaign program to increase the digital resilience of Dutch citizens, including against social engineering, and to reduce victimisation of cybercrime and online fraud.
“The first campaign will be specifically aimed at young people and increasing their action perspective to, among other things, recognise messages and advertisements in a timely manner that are too good to be true.”
In addition to reaffirming an endorsement on the reporting of fraud, Weerwind cited the above as a key indication of the importance of a reliable legal sport betting offering in the Netherlands.
“I am working on a stricter framework for fulfilling the duty of care of providers, in particular in the field of playing limits”
To conclude, Weerwind cited an impending Gambling Act evaluation, as well as various steps taken since legalisation, when quizzed on a perceived normalisation and detriment to society since October 2021.
“The Remote Gambling Act came into effect in April 2021 and will be evaluated in 2024,” he commented. “I think it is too early to draw conclusions about the effects of this law.
“The question of whether the intended goals are achieved by the law will be discussed in the evaluation. The market for online gambling is developing partly in accordance with expectations, in the sense that the vast majority of players are able to find legal offers.
“At the same time, there are also strong signals that already require adjustment. These relate to consumer protection and the prevention of gambling addiction. I have already made adjustments within the given legal frameworks in the past period and will continue to do so.
“For example, I have banned the use of role models as of June 30, 2022, and untargeted advertising for online gambling as of July 1, 2023. Addiction prevention is central to my policy efforts.
“In anticipation of a work agenda that I will share with your House at the end of this year, I am taking measures in the field of information and awareness activities, and I am working on a stricter framework for fulfilling the duty of care of providers, in particular in the field of playing limits.”
