Major Cyber Crime Crackdown: ₹35.5 Lakh Recovered for Victims in Sambalpur
Sambalpur: In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, the Cyber Crime & Economic Offences Police Station in Sambalpur has recovered ₹35.5 lakh lost in various cyber fraud cases and traced 100 stolen or lost mobile phones over the past two months.
The recovered assets are being returned to their rightful owners, providing relief to numerous victims of online fraud and theft.
According to police officials, the recovery was made possible through rapid digital investigations, bank coordination, financial tracing, and advanced cyber intelligence techniques.
The operation highlights the growing effectiveness of cyber law enforcement in tackling online crimes.
Among the major recoveries, police restored ₹15.5 lakh in a case involving victim Lipak Pradhan, who had reportedly lost ₹25 lakh to cyber fraud.
Investigators also seized gold ornaments allegedly purchased using the defrauded money.
In another case, ₹6.12 lakh was recovered from a fraud involving Sunil Kumar Sahu, while the remaining amount has been frozen for further restitution.
Police also recovered ₹2.11 lakh in a case linked to Hemanta Biswal, ₹2.08 lakh in a fraud affecting Jagannath Ghosh, and ₹1.05 lakh in a case involving Satyam Meher.
Additionally, police recovered ₹2.25 lakh across several other cybercrime complaints.
Through the Money Restoration Module (MRM) Portal, authorities directly restored ₹6.39 lakh to 74 victims, enabling faster compensation and reducing procedural delays.
The cyber police also traced 100 lost or stolen mobile phones using IMEI-based tracking and digital investigation tools.
The recovered devices are being handed back to their owners.
Officials urged citizens to remain cautious against fake investment schemes, fraudulent customer-care numbers, impersonation scams, and phishing links circulated through SMS, WhatsApp, and email.
Police emphasised the importance of reporting cyber frauds immediately during the “golden hour” to improve the chances of freezing stolen funds and recovering lost money.
Victims have been advised to contact the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or file complaints through the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
The recovery drive underscores the increasing capability of Odisha Police’s cybercrime units in protecting citizens from digital fraud and ensuring swift action against cybercriminals.
