Bhubaneswar, (Orissa Today), July 11: Odisha has witnessed a significant surge in cyber-crime cases, recording 2,394 fraud incidents in the past six months alone. According to Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, these cases have amounted to over Rs 36 crore in losses, affecting victims across various locations including Bhubaneswar.
Efforts by law enforcement have led to the freezing of approximately Rs 9.5 crore and the return of Rs 46 lakh to affected individuals, with ongoing efforts to recover funds for other victims.
The majority of cyber fraud instances involved methods such as UPI fraud, social media scams, fraudulent parcel and credit card deliveries, and deceptive messages related to SIM KYC procedures.
Commissionerate Police have taken stringent action, apprehending 21 cyber fraudsters, including five involved in interstate criminal networks, all of whom have been presented in court for legal proceedings.
Two primary types of cyber fraud have been identified: digital impersonation and investment scams, with a predominant focus on digital impersonation cases. The rise in cyber-crime underscores the need for heightened vigilance and robust preventive measures in digital transactions and communications.
