The Metropolitan Police has released new videos in a move to crackdown on online fraud and cyber crime.

Detectives from Operation Falcon, the Met's response team to fraud and linked crime online, created the videos to educate internet users on how to avoid becoming an online victim of crime.

In 2016, around 750,000 fraud and computer misuse crimes were reported to police nationally.

The videos cover the use of weak or insecure passwords, failure to install security updates on devices, using insecure/public Wi-Fi, being vulnerable to identity theft and being vulnerable to "phishing," which is an attempt to obtain sensitive information by disguising as a trustworthy body.

Met Police provide online safety tutorial for web users to prevent cyber crime
Are you safe online?

Detective Superintendent Neil Ballard, head of the Met's Operation Falcon said: "Victims of cyber criminals often mistakenly believe that fraud and cybercrime happen to other people.

"Our new video clips form part of our 'Little Guide' series, through which we aim not just to draw the public's attention to cyber crime, but to also to tell web users in a more engaging way what they need to do in order to avoid becoming a victim.

"It takes just a couple of minutes to view each clip and having viewed all five you will be better equipped to protect yourself from cyber criminals and fraudsters trying to steal your identity and your money.

"The use of password hardening is the first line of defence against cyber criminals and is the first video clip that we feature.

" In the majority of cases, a strong password could have prevented criminals from gaining access.

"This video clip gives a simple step by step on how to create a virtually impenetrable password that will defend accounts from all types of criminal attack."

The videos aim to prevent online fraud

Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, which provides online security advice, said: "We hear all sorts of scary stories about online scams, but the internet offers so many fantastic opportunities that we shouldn't let the threat of cyber crime put us off going online and enjoying its many benefits.

"Instead, we just need to make a few small changes to our online behaviour in order to protect ourselves and stop scammers catching us out.

"The video series created by the Metropolitan Police shows us how to do this through simple step-by-step guides and tips on some of the basics such as creating a password.

"A few minutes to watch the videos could mean a lifetime of online safety, so we really do ask the public to take the time to watch them, brush up on their online safety and share them with others."

The clips can be viewed at www.met.police.uk or at GetSafeOnline.org .

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