Thanks to this unique collaboration between the Public Prosecution Service, the Police Unit The Hague, and the business community, participants could immerse themselves in various real police cases, such as cold cases and missing persons cases, as well as cases involving digital crime. The goal of the day was to seek new leads so that cases could potentially be solved later.
Childrens Team
The anniversary edition of the Hackathon introduced a new component, namely a childrens team. Four young talents, the youngest only nine years old, took on phishing panels. Fake websites that criminals use to steal passwords and data. The children conducted their research under the guidance of a team of experienced Hackathon participants.
Bryan Sewberath Misser, one of the organizers of the Hackathon, proudly states: “Children grow up in a digital world, their perspective can therefore sometimes be so enlightening and provide new insights. That these children contribute to digital safety with their fresh perspective and courage is inspiring and necessary in todays digital age.’’
Cases and International Cooperation
During the Hackathon, specific issues from the Unit The Hague were addressed. The teams examined various phenomena, from tracking down fake police officers to tracing those responsible for boiler room fraud (where the victim has lost a lot of money) and bank helpdesk fraud and fraudulent websites.
In addition to substantive deepening, this edition was also focused on international cooperation. Various international partners and colleagues from Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom participated in the Hackathon. The Hackathon is a great example of the importance of sharing digital knowledge and continuing to invest in international cooperation and innovation.
Result
When a team possibly had a catch, this was validated by the organization. At the end of the day, after more than 6 hours of investigation, various pitches were given in which the teams presented their results. In all cases, the teams found leads to further advance the cases. For example, based on an open-source investigation, a possible location of a woman who scams others into investing in crypto was uncovered. The childrens team also took down a phishing website impersonating a large organization in collaboration with the police.
Furthermore, the teams also worked internationally on a previously unresolved Amber Alert case, where new leads were found through the use of AI, OSINT methodologies, and a previously unpublished facial reconstruction. All leads and findings from the cases have been submitted to the police for use in further investigation.
Report Criminal or Unlawful Content
If you suspect criminal digital activities such as phishing, see illegal content, or have become a victim yourself, please report this to us by calling 0900-8844 or by making an appointment at a nearby police station.
