Cyber ​​fraud in Himachal: Residents lose ₹44 crore

Shimla, August 27: Cybercrime is fast becoming a menace in Himachal Pradesh. In the last seven months alone, cybercriminals have duped residents of ₹44 crore. The situation is alarming, with reports indicating that almost every other day someone in the state falls prey to these online frauds. The cyber cell of the state CIT has revealed that cybercrime cases have increased fourfold compared to the last four years, indicating the growing threat.

Despite the best efforts of the cyber police, which regularly issues advisories to keep people informed, fraudsters keep finding new victims. The data paints a worrying picture: over 5,000 cybercrime complaints have been filed so far this year, of which 110 cases specifically relate to cyber fraud and violations of the IT Act.

Till July this year, cybercriminals had stolen ₹44 crore from people across the state. Shimla alone reported frauds worth ₹16.5 crore, while Mandi lost ₹17.5 crore and Dharamshala lost ₹10 crore. To put the situation in perspective, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the average daily number of cybercrime complaints was only 11. This number increased to 23 in 2023 and now, in 2024, it has reached 260 complaints per day. Additionally, the cyber police are receiving 375 complaints related to violations of the IT Act every week. In response to this alarming trend, the police have once again urged the public to remain vigilant and protect themselves from cyber frauds.

Hackers are emptying bank accounts by hacking phones

DIG Cyber ​​Crime Mohit Chawla explained how these criminals operate. Many victims unwittingly share their bank details or other sensitive information with fraudsters, who then use this data to empty their accounts. In some cases, victims are tricked into downloading apps that allow fraudsters to hack their phones, provide access to bank accounts, and easily steal money. The public is strictly advised to be vigilant and avoid sharing personal information or downloading suspicious apps.