Goa Sees 22% Drop in High-Value Cybercrimes Amid Increased Awareness Campaigns

Panaji: There was a 22% decline in high value cybercrimes — more than Rs 10 lakh — in the first six months of the year. Goa police said that there is a 45% increase in the lien amount of total financial frauds reported in the same period.

The lien amount refers to the funds that police were able t

o block by freezing the bank accounts of fraudsters.SP (cyber crime) Rahul Gupta said that the most prominent high-value frauds are digital arrest, investment frauds, and task-based frauds. He said that there was a 12% decrease in the number of cybercrime complaints.Gupta said that awareness is the biggest antidote. “We are trying to raise awareness through our campaign ‘Cyber Surakshit Goem’ through various means.

But people themselves should also be curious about this subject. They should read from authentic online sources and discuss among themselves,” he said.The SP said that all police stations have a network of Cyber Yoddhas. “If any responsible citizen wants a cyber awareness programme to be conducted in any part of Goa, they can approach the local police station,” he said.Police reported that cyber fraudsters target Goa’s unemployed youth by offering them online task-based jobs (such as writing reviews), and then, when they’re paid for it, they lose the same money to the fraudsters after they gain their trust.

Gupta said that initially, the criminals pay up to Rs 20,000 for the completion of a task.“Once the cyber fraudsters gain the trust of the youth, they lure them to invest in IPOs related to their companies and promise huge returns. The online job scam then turns into an investment scam. Once the victim invests and decides to withdraw, they direct victims to pay different types of fees, resulting in cheating,” police said.TOI reported that an investigation into cybercrimes shows that fraudsters target youth to ostensibly hire their bank accounts and SIM cards, using gaming apps as an inducement, and then deploy the personal information for criminal activities.Cyber fraudsters approach youth through social media and other platforms and persuade them to rent out their bank accounts and SIM cards to earn additional pocket money.