Panaji: The Cyber Crime Cell of the Goa Police on Wednesday announced that the cases of online fraud have seen a decline in the state in recent months.
Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) Rahul Gupta, in a media statement released here, said that an analysis of fraud amounts over a five-month period reveals that for the year 2024, the amount of cyber fraud reported in Goa during the June–October period is 33.2 percent lower than in the January–May period.
“During the same period, the number of transactions put on hold by the Cyber Cell increased by 242 percent,” he added.
Gupta stated that this indicates that intensive awareness campaigns and swift investigations of cyber fraud cases have contributed to a decline in fraud amounts and an increase in the percentage of transactions placed on hold.
The SP also mentioned that the Cyber Cell has launched the Cyber Surakshit Goem (Cyber Safe Goa) campaign to raise awareness, collaborating with panchayats, schools, colleges, and industries to promote cyber awareness. College students have been mobilized as cyber volunteers, and extensive social media campaigns have also been conducted.
He further noted that special teams have been formed to follow up on transactions with financial intermediaries, ensuring timely action to put transactions on hold and disrupt the flow of fraudulent finances.
The Cyber Cell has apprehended 45 individuals from various parts of the country, including Rajasthan, West Bengal, Kerala, Hyderabad, and Delhi, in cases registered with the Cyber Police Station. This highlights the complex, inter-state nature of cyber fraud networks, he said.
Gupta also mentioned that to deter the opening of mule accounts in Goa, eight bank managers have been questioned in connection with such accounts.
“New methods of cyber fraud are emerging. One such modus operandi is task-based frauds, where victims are added to WhatsApp or Telegram groups and asked to perform tasks in exchange for money. However, when it comes to withdrawing the money, they are asked to pay processing fees, resulting in fraud,” he explained.
He added that another growing concern is WhatsApp hacking, which occurs when victims share OTPs with fraudsters or click on malicious links that give perpetrators control over their phones and WhatsApp accounts.
“Once a victim’s WhatsApp account is hacked, fraudsters contact the victim’s friends and family, requesting urgent financial help,” he said.
To prevent such frauds, citizens must enable two-step verification on WhatsApp. (Link: [https://faq.whatsapp.com/1920866721452534])
For any kind of cyber fraud, citizens can report it by calling 1930 or visiting cybercrime.gov.in
