Similar to Jamtara, several cyber fraud groups have emerged in the state. Consequently, the state has become ensnared in a kind of cyber fraud network. This alarming information surfaced during the investigation by the Cyber Cell of the Police Headquarters.
The Cyber Cell has identified the mobile numbers of over 10,000 such cyber fraudsters in the state, who are extorting lakhs of rupees from people every day. Most of these are operating under the guise of call centres, exploiting unsuspecting individuals.
DGP (Cyber Cell) Ravi Prakash Mehrada, in an exclusive interview with ‘India News,’ admitted that most cases of cyber fraud have come to light in the state around call centres. Cyber fraudsters are stealing data from government and private banks, and by impersonating customers, they are conducting scams day and night.
The Cyber Cell of the Police Headquarters has now launched ‘Operation Vajra Strike’ to uproot such fraud groups, involving all district police, including both commissioners in the campaign against cyber fraudsters. This campaign, which began on Saturday, has created a panic among such fraudsters.
The facility turned into duplicity
DGP Mehrada revealed that the investigation by the Cyber Cell has made it clear that cyber fraud is flourishing under the guise of call centres. Most of the identified numbers are associated with the operators of call centres, who are engaging in fraudulent activities against innocent people. The mobile numbers of active cyber fraudsters from other states have also been identified by the Cyber Cell in the state.
Therefore, the Cyber Cell of the Police Headquarters has initiated ‘Operation Vajra Strike’ to arrest more than ten thousand such mobile numbers. The DGP stated that after the arrest campaign, the information obtained from questioning the accused will be verified, and a separate campaign will be launched to expose the call centres brewing deception under police pressure.
More fraud in the name of loans, doubling money
The DGP of the Cyber Cell stated that cyber fraudsters are conducting the most scams by giving the bait of getting loans from banks and doubling deposited money. For this, the group collects records of customers from banks. In addition to stealing data, the fraudsters also hack the numbers and logos of the relevant bank and, by becoming bank officials, trap the customers in their net.
DGP Mehrada has appealed to customers to periodically visit the relevant bank during the loan approval process to check the authenticity. He emphasized that if there is any suspicion of fraud, customers should immediately contact the respective bank or the Cyber Cell of the district police. He also advised against sharing OTP with unknown individuals during any financial transaction with government and private banks.
