Rising online scams pose fresh challenge to J&K cops
The growing number of online scams in Jammu and Kashmir has presented a fresh challenge for the Union Territory (UT) Police, who receive numerous complaints daily about gullible individuals falling victim to fraudsters.
Over the past two years, cyber frauds have increasingly targeted rural areas of the UT, where a lack of awareness has made it easier for scammers to deceive people. In the Jammu region, remote and mountainous districts like Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, and Poonch have become hotspots for cybercrime. Hardly a day passes without reports of an online scam from these areas.
To combat this trend, the J&K Police have established cyber cells in all 10 districts of the Jammu division. Despite this effort, cases involving fraudsters from outside J&K duping locals continue to rise. The cyber cells were formed to address such crimes comprehensively, with officials receiving specialised training in handling cybercrime cases.
In October, Samba district police received complaints about seven online frauds, amounting to a total loss of Rs 11 lakh. However, the cybercrime investigation unit successfully recovered approximately Rs 9 lakh in these cases.
A senior police official explained that the widespread availability of mobile phones and the internet in remote villages has contributed to the rise in online scams. “While the police strive to recover the defrauded amounts, it is crucial for people to understand the various forms of online fraud and avoid trusting unknown individuals or sharing personal details online,” the official advised.
In a recent case in Kishtwar, the police recovered Rs1.76 lakh stolen from victims through schemes such as mobile recharge frauds, unauthorised third-party app installations, deceptive social media links, and fake Aadhaar card updates. Additionally, online schemes promising high interest rates on deposits have duped many people across J&K.
Last month, a man in Kathua fell victim to fraudsters impersonating police officials. They falsely claimed his son had been arrested for rape and murder. The victim, unable to contact his son due to the fraudsters blocking his calls, transferred Rs 52,000 in multiple transactions. The police later recovered the amount.
Recently, Kashmir police warned locals about fraudsters distributing links to a fake J&K Bank app via WhatsApp. The malicious file contained malware capable of hacking mobile phones.
In response to the growing cybercrime threat, the J&K Police, in collaboration with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh police and experts from IIT Jammu, conducted a joint exercise on “digital arrests” to strengthen inter-agency coordination against cybercrime.
Jammu ADGP Anand Jain has emphasised the increasing importance of technology in modern policing, highlighting how advancements in fields like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity can significantly enhance law enforcement efficiency.
