Cybercons trap victims with money or fear: DGP

Lucknow: Director general of police Rajeev Krishna on Wednesday cautioned people against falling victim to "digital arrest" scams, fake investment schemes and social media traps, saying fear, greed and negligence are the biggest weapons in the hands of cyber criminals.Participating via video conferencing in a 1-day cyber awareness workshop organised in Etawah, Krishna addressed students, teachers, professionals and police officers, underlining how the rapid digital shift transformed everyday life and crime.
"After Covid, nearly 70-80% of citizens adopted digital payments as part of routine life. Mobile banking, UPI and online transactions became essential. But as convenience increased, so did cybercrime," he said.Krishna said that 55-60% of cybercrime complaints in the state are related to financial fraud. Fraudsters lure victims with promises of doubling money, fake trading apps, lottery wins or impersonation calls posing as officials from police, CBI, ED or the income tax department.He said, "No govt agency in India conducts arrests through video calls or demands money to settle cases. If someone calls you claiming you are under ‘digital arrest', disconnect immediately."He said that even highly educated professionals transferred lakhs of rupees under psychological pressure created by scammers. He also cautioned against clicking unknown links, downloading suspicious APK files, or opening digital wedding invitations and courier messages from unknown numbers. He said excessive social media use and online gaming addiction are emerging as serious social challenges. He urged parents to monitor children's digital behaviour and screen time.Krishna appealed to citizens to immediately dial the national cyber helpline 1930 if they suspect fraud. He explained that the govt of India's integrated cyber response system allows banks and NBFCs to quickly freeze suspicious accounts."The golden hour is critical. If you report within minutes, the chances of freezing and recovering money increase significantly," he said.