Cyber fraud on the rise in Odisha: Rs 125 crore lost, 6,368 cases registered, 1,388 arrested in 3 Years

Cybercriminals are increasingly preying on well-educated individuals and affluent businessmen in Odisha, expanding their targets beyond rural villagers. 

These fraudsters deceive individuals engaged in online trading and business with promises of swift and substantial financial gains, leading to considerable monetary losses.

Alarm over financial losses

In the last three years, fraudsters have drained approximately Rs 125 crore through cyber fraud. Authorities have registered over 6,000 cases and have arrested 1,388 suspects linked to these cybercrimes. 

Victims who fell prey

Pradyumna Das, a mechanical engineer, fell victim to cyber fraud despite his digital awareness, losing Rs 30,000 after a moment of carelessness.

Likewise, Biswajit Mahanta, a B Tech in Computer Science, was targeted. After acquiring a loan from an online platform two years ago and repaying it, cybercriminals continue to blackmail him with threats of leaking compromising images unless further payments are made.

Authorities taking action

The victims reported their cases at the Bhubaneswar cyber police station. These incidents are not isolated; on a daily basis, hundreds of knowledgeable individuals in digital technologies are ensnared by cybercriminals.

Even former IT minister Tusharkanti Behera lost Rs 1.40 crore in a fraudulent stock market investment scheme. 

The Crime Branch's cyber cell has noted that criminals exploit websites related to digital marketing and tourism to deceive individuals into investing in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and Over-the-Counter (OTC) opportunities, only to rob them of their investments.

Must Read: Doctor duped of Rs 75000 in cyber fraud in Odisha

On 23 September, the Crime Branch revealed a case where a Bhubaneswar resident lost Rs 1.55 crore while trading online. In connection, police arrested two individuals from Bhopal.

"Different teams of the Crime Branch have been investigating various cybercrime cases. We are also creating awareness about cybercrime among people," said Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra.

Policing and prevention

The Odisha Crime Branch has reportedly intensified its actions, arresting 33 individuals from outside the state engaged in online trading fraud.

Additionally, Satish Kumar from Bihar was arrested by the Commissionerate Police for defrauding Rs 20 lakh by promising a dealership under Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

"We have arrested a cyber criminal named Satish Kumar from Bihar. As many as six mobile phones and net cash worth Rs 15,000 have been seized from him. His three bank accounts have been freezed," said Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena.

Confronting common traps

Experts highlight that greed often blinds educated individuals, who, in pursuit of quick profits, fall into these traps only to lose their capital.

State government data shows that, over the past three years, Rs 125 crore was extracted by cybercriminals through 6,368 registered cases, leading to 1,388 arrests.

"Most of the cyber crimes occur due to greed and fear. Cyber crimes could be curbed by remaining aware. People should not accept any WhatsApp link from any unknown sources promising gifts or money," said cyber expert Prashant Sahu.