Ranchi: As many as 6,610 complaints related to cyber fraud amounting to Rs 74.59 crore were received in the first three months of the year, according to data from the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Data further revealed that so far, police have frozen Rs 14.52 crore in various bank accounts in order to return the amount to the victims, while Rs 16.98 lakh has been refunded to the complainants through courts. Moreover, 222 cybercrime-related FIRs were registered with cyber police stations across the state in the same period.
Investment Scams Most Frequent
Additional Director General (CID), Manoj Kaushik, said, “Out of all the cyber frauds, investment scams are most frequent. Usually a huge amount of money is involved in each case. Moreover, it is a challenge for police to trace and freeze the money when the incident’s reporting is delayed, which is around 24 hours.”
He said that an investment scam is committed by persuading the victim to invest while showing him or her fake profit.
Strengthened Helpline and Victim-Centric Approach
He said that the ‘Dial 1930’ centre has been strengthened with infrastructure and manpower so that any delay in registration of complaints due to call drops does not occur. He added that police have adopted a victim centric approach, meaning that even if they stay outside the state but criminals are in Jharkhand, police would cooperate with counterparts across the country to nab the accused.
Officers said that complaints registered with 1930 are often further processed, leading to FIRs, adding that in many cases the victims visit the police stations directly.
Challenges in Freezing Funds
Officers added that the defrauded amount can be frozen only when it is in bank accounts, adding that once the money is withdrawn through ATM or cheque or purchases, it becomes difficult to track it.
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About the Author
Sanjay Sahay: With over a decade of experience in journalism, he primarily covers crime, security, central agencies besides reporting on civil courts in Ranchi. He also takes interest in education reporting and has been regularly writing on higher education policies in the state.
