Today, May 27, a dialogue platform entitled "Youth Crime Prevention" was held at the Belarusian National Technical University for first-year students of the Faculty of Power Engineering. Invited experts discussed the most pressing threats and safe behavior rules with the students.
The topic of digital literacy and cybercrime was raised by Dmitry Kolyada, investigator of the Sovietsky District Department of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Minsk). He immediately outlined the scale of the problem: most telephone and online scammers are located outside the country, making them much more difficult to catch. The topic of phishing was also covered in detail, for example, on popular online sales platforms, attackers steal bank card information through fake links.
The expert focused on the scams that often target the elderly:
– You or your relatives might receive a call informing them that your phone contract is about to expire. They ask for your details to renew, and then fake government agencies and fake cash collectors step in and steal your savings. Be sure to warn your grandparents about this, – the investigator advised.
It was also noted that not only pensioners but also students fall for such scams. The expert recommended ignoring calls from foreign numbers and always calling friends back in person if they receive an urgent request to borrow money via messenger, as it's easy for criminals to hack someone else's account. A warning was also issued about liability for distributing pornographic materials.
The discussion on real-life safety was continued by Nikita Bogatov, a district inspector with the Juvenile Affairs Inspectorate of the Sovietsky District Police Department of Minsk. This topic is especially relevant with the summer holidays approaching.
The inspector reminded students of changes to traffic regulations: starting September 1, 2025, crossing the road on personal mobility devices will only be permitted after dismounting. This measure is prompted by alarming traffic accident statistics.
Then the topic of protecting younger siblings was addressed. Criminals often gain children's trust, asking them to go to a secluded area and turn off their phones, then blackmailing their parents with a fictitious kidnapping.
Another topic of discussion was drugs. A police representative described how young people are lured with promises of easy money. This inevitably leads to long prison sentences and broken lives, as drug dealers often begin using illegal substances themselves. To illustrate this point, the students were shown a preventative video.
– Behavior on the railway and so-called "train surfers" are a separate issue. Not long ago, at the Institut Kultury metro station, teenagers rode for some distance outside a train, clinging to it, and were held accountable. I also urge you to exercise extreme caution. Always turn off your music and remove your headphones near tracks and in the metro, – Nikita Bogatov emphasized.
At the end of the meeting, participants were reminded of the strict ban on smoking and drinking alcohol in public places. Such violations are punishable by law and carry serious consequences, including expulsion from the university. It was noted that committing offenses while intoxicated is an aggravating circumstance, and regular alcohol consumption leads to close scrutiny from drug addiction specialists and juvenile affairs commissions.
The meeting was held in an open dialogue format, where every first-year student had the opportunity to receive up-to-date information, ask questions to experts, and consider their own safety.
