In a significant crackdown on digital crime, the Gurgaon police have made substantial strides in combating cyber fraud, arresting hundreds of individuals and recovering crores of rupees in November alone. The city's cyber units are intensifying their efforts against a rising tide of online scams that have cost residents dearly.
November Crackdown: Arrests and Financial Recovery
Throughout the month of November, Gurgaon police arrested 214 individuals connected to a wide spectrum of cyber fraud schemes. Their operations led to the freezing of Rs 8.7 crore in suspicious accounts and the successful refund of Rs 3.52 crore to victims who had been defrauded. This action provided crucial relief to many who had fallen prey to sophisticated online cons.
The cyber police stations were inundated with complaints, receiving a total of 3,557 reports between November 1 and November 30. The arrested accused were involved in diverse criminal activities including:
- Banking and OTP fraud
- Online trading and investment scams
- Fake job and customer-care rackets
- Social media–based offences
Annual Statistics Reveal Alarming Scale of Fraud
The data for the broader year paints a stark picture of the cyber threat landscape in Gurgaon. Cumulatively, until November, cyber criminals inflicted a staggering total loss of approximately Rs 230 crore on residents. In response, the police have managed to recover around Rs 46.6 crore from a total of 2,230 accused arrested so far this year.
A comparative analysis with the previous year shows a marked increase in police action. By October of this year, cyber units had received 35,564 complaints and registered 1,400 First Information Reports (FIRs). This represents a significant jump from the corresponding period last year, when 33,329 complaints were received and 1,078 cases were registered.
In the first ten months of last year, victims lost over Rs 2.9 crore, leading to a recovery of Rs 79.4 crore and the arrest of 1,500 fraudsters from January to October.
Police Strategy and Dominant Fraud Types
ACP (Cyber Crime) Priyanshu Diwan outlined the department's focused strategy. "The focus was on identifying modular cyber gangs and strengthening real-time coordination with financial institutions, telecom operators, and digital platforms," he stated. The force employed technical surveillance, digital tracing, and faster account-freezing processes to track down suspects effectively.
A critical tool in this fight has been the 1930 cyber helpline. Through this dedicated channel, police facilitated the Rs 3.52 crore in refunds last month and prevented further losses by putting the Rs 8.7 crore on hold. Officials highlighted that investment scams constitute a dominant 60% of all cyber fraud in Gurgaon, followed by the emerging threat of 'digital arrest' scams.
The concerted efforts of the Gurgaon Cyber Crime police demonstrate a robust response to a growing urban menace, aiming to create a safer digital environment for the city's citizens.
