8K fall prey to cyber fraud in city, lose Rs 70 cr this year

There has been a significant increase in the number of cybercrime complaints annually. The Cyber Crime Investigation Cell here has received nearly 8,150 complaints this year, with the victims losing a total of Rs 70 crore to fraudsters.

The rising number of cyber complaints highlights the growing reach of fraudsters to technology.

One of the latest tricks employed by scamsters is “digital arrest”. They pose as police or law enforcement officers, threaten their victims with arrest and force them into transferring large sums in specific accounts.

Police officials have advised people to immediately report such frauds on helpline 1930, as timely intervention can help cops recover their hard-earned money.

“We managed to freeze and recover nearly Rs 7 crore from the bank accounts of fraudsters before they could withdraw or transfer money. This was possible only due to the timely reporting of crime by the victims,” said a police official.

On December 9, a woman was duped of Rs 11.06 lakh by fraudsters who claimed she had been implicated in a money-laundering case. When the woman realised she had been tricked, she promptly alerted cybercrime officials. They immediately froze the account, to which the money was transferred. This year, 13 complaints of digital arrest scam have been reported. Blackmail complaints, including sextortion and threat messages on social media, have been the most common cybercrime with 1,599 complaints. Other plaints include 698 of debit and credit card fraud, and 633 related to scams on online marketplaces such as OLX, wherein fraudsters posed as personnel of the armed forces to gain the victims’ trust. Besides, 544 complaints were made by people who lost money after sharing OTPs with fraudsters.

With regard to investment scams, the city has witnessed 471 plaints this year. These fraudsters contact their victims via WhatsApp or other social media platforms and promise them high returns on investments in stocks or cryptocurrency.

The police have warned people against fake customer care numbers posted on the Internet. A total of 371 people have lost their money after contacting fraudulent customer care service providers.

The cyber police station had put more than 80 fraudsters behind bars and recovered a substantial amount from their accounts this year.

The police officials said sharing OTPs or sensitive information can lead to financial losses. “People are advised not to click on suspicious web links, especially when receiving payments or making transactions online. Verifying the identity of anyone requesting money over the phone, avoiding promises of quick profits and being cautious about remote job offers can help individuals stay safe from such scams,” said a police official.

Residents must remain extremely alert and aware to avoid falling prey to cybercriminals, a police official said.