The State has witnessed a significant increase in the number of cyber frauds and various cyber-related incidents in the last seven months.
Going by the data given by the Commissionerate Police, cyber criminals have swindled over Rs7.79 crore over last seven months. So far, police have managed to bring back Rs 70 lakh from the swindlers and blocked Rs 61 lakh.
Addressing a press meet, Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Prateek Singh on Wednesday said, “People were mostly duped on the pretext of selling products through OLX, nude calls and paying electricity bills through online. But nude call scams are on the rise with victims doling out cash to avoid embarrassment. Most of the time victims don’t file complaints fearing embarrassment. OLX related scams are those where fraudsters approach unsuspecting sellers and dupe them of their money.”
DCP advises Bhubaneswar residents to file complaints if they fall prey to cyber crimes without delay.
In July, a total of 368 fraud calls have been registered out of which 148 calls have been booked under UPI fraud cases.
Two days back, an engineer working with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in Bhubaneswar has fallen prey to a nude video call trap laid by cyber fraudsters and lost Rs 25 lakh from his bank account following a blackmail.
Meanwhile, the cyber police have launched a probe into the matter after the victim lodged a complaint in this regard.
DCP further said, “Identifying themselves as Army officer, In such frauds, the fraudster usually posing as an Army or Paramilitary personnel, contacts the person who want to buy properties. Once both the parties have agreed to a certain price, the fraudster claims that he can sell the product after getting the payment only. They give excuse that he cannot come physically to sell the property. When they get money, they discontinue all sort of communication with buyer.”