Victims of cybercrime share their experiences of mental anguish

On the evening of February 10, 2020, Jane stumbled upon social media posts that would haunt her for a long time.

On her WhatsApp status were private photos of her with her estranged boyfriend, posted for everyone to see what was reserved for the couple’s eyes.

The exposure, she says, left a permanent scar that made her vulnerable and withdrawn.

“When it happened, it left me in shock. The realization that most of the private moments that I shared with him in confidence were now public was the worst humiliation that has refused to leave my mind,” she said.

“The betrayal cut deep, not only because of the breach of my privacy but also the indignity the exposure had caused me since all my contact viewed the intimate nature of photos he shared which would make one perceive me a prostitute.”

The university graduate had to endure the cruel public condemnation from relatives and colleagues.

Jane, who we can’t reveal her true identity for the sake of her privacy, is one of the the increasing number of cybercrime victims.

In today’s world, a malicious person’s click on a computer or mobile phone can turn one’s life into a living hell.

Individuals are becoming more vulnerable to financial losses, identity theft, trauma and character assassination as cybercrime threat grows in the increasingly digital space.

Scary phone notifications

Jane says after the incident, she was even afraid of notifications on her cell phone.

“I couldn’t gather the courage to face people who might have seen the posts. The shame morphed into a deep-seated fear of intimacy. I even began to question myself whether anyone could see me beyond the humiliation,” she says.

“My self-esteem plummeted as I grappled with feelings of shame and inadequacy from the confident girl I was before. I became withdrawn, avoiding public gatherings and even declining invitations from friends.”

The mental torture forced her to quit college, spending most of her time in doors alone.

Another cyber-attack victim narrates how she struggle with distrust not only towards the online world but also the people around her.

 Crooks hacked the phone of Marion Nanjala, a student at the Kabianga University, and conned her contacts, claiming that she was suffering from a life-threatening disease and urgently needed medication.

“Strange notifications began popping up on my phone. Then my friends started receiving odd messages from me, asking for money and personal details,” recalls Nanjala.

Panic set in when she realised she was not able to log into her email or social media accounts since the hackers had already changed access codes.

“The emotional toll was immediate. My sense of security crumbled, and so did my mental well-being. Every notification made my heart race, every email felt like another invasion of my privacy. These made me avoid social interactions and feel embarrassed about what had happened. I feared judgment from friends, worried they would think that I was sick.

“To date, I uninstalled social media applications like Facebook because of the harrowing experience I encountered.”

Tormenting boyfriend

Maryane, another victim, says she suffered cyber-attacks twice from someone she knows.

“I had a guy who is an IT expert. He hacked my phone and frustrated me until I had to crush my phone since I couldn’t take it anymore. It’s something that had never happened to me before,” she notes.

Public figures have also become victims of these scammers.

“I have, on several occasions, fallen into the trap of cyber-attacks. There are instances where people in my constituency have conned others using my name and account,” says Lurambi MP Titus Khamala.

Besides the Cyber Crimes Act of Kenya, enacted in 2018, the lawmaker now plans to introduce a Bill in Parliament to protect Kenyans from online attacks.

According to a survey by Allianz Commercial, cybercrime incidents like data breaches, ransomware and infrastructural attacks are the top global business risks this year compared to 2023 where natural catastrophes were leading. The survey was based on the insights of 3,069 risk management experts from 92 countries and territories.

Another report by PR Newswire says cybercrime has increased by 400 per cent since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic while a report from Norton indicates that 55 million consumers were victims of identity theft in 2021.

The situation is similar here in Kenya. Phishing attacks targeting individuals have rapidly increased, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK).

Kenya recorded about 278 million cyber threats between July and September last year. CAK further observed that individuals fell victim to personal data breaches, identity theft and financial fraud.

In August, Interior PS Raymond Omollo said cyber-attacks were becoming increasingly sophisticated, underscoring the need for robust cloud security measures.

Psychologists say most victims sufer shame and guilt.

“We all have an inherent desire to trust and connect. Romantic types of cyber fraud involve paranoid persons being won over in confidence by the fraudster. Initially, the fraudster gives, and once trust is established in the victim, the fraudster takes. A safe guide is to shun extremes of hypervigilance, paranoia and careless abandon. We need some level of vigilance,” says Hendricks Ademba.

He says fear of future scams might lead to anxiety or avoidance of digital interactions.

Red flags

He says it’s important that education be done on signals to look out for in cyber fraud because anything that creates a sudden sense of urgency and panic, requiring quick decisions, is another red flag.

However, it does not stop at that. Ademba emphasises the need to bring the perpetrators to light and legal action.

“Online fraudsters are not easily prosecuted or even arrested. Victims who hold strongly to belief in some form of justice, have their entire worldview challenged. Security and legal action must be taken. Bringing the wrongdoers to justice is one way of helping victims to heal from their psychological wounds brought on by the adverse effects of cyber insecurity.”