Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jan 15: Asserting that timely reporting remains the most effective tool in combating online frauds, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Cyber Investigation Centre for Excellence (CICE), Ramnish Gupta, on Thursday said that cybercrimes in J&K touched a staggering Rs 184.91 crore in 2025.
Talking to the reporters at the sidelines of a CICE workshop the SSP said, “Citizens need to fight digital scams and greed by keeping their eyes and minds open. They have to ensure that they don’t fall into fake investment traps, impersonation calls and other deceptive online tactics used by fraudsters.”
He said, “Over 18,000 cyber fraud complaints were registered nationwide last year, reflecting both growing digital adoption and the alarming rise in online criminal activity. The first few minutes after a cyber fraud are critical, the golden hour. If victims report immediately on helpline 1930, we can freeze the funds before they vanish,” Gupta said, calling early reporting “the strongest weapon against cyber frauds.”
“The swift reporting by victims has helped us recover Rs 32.64 crore,” he added.
SSP Gupta warned that fraudsters are now misusing technology and psychological manipulation to trap victims through “digital arrest” scams, where callers impersonate police or courier officials, falsely claiming that a parcel in the victim’s name contains illegal items.
“There is no such term in law. If someone claims you are ‘digitally arrested’ or demands money to avoid legal action, cut the call immediately, it’s a scam,” he said, citing cases from Delhi and Srinagar involving senior citizens who lost large sums.
The SSP said fake online investment schemes promising to double or triple money, fraudulent job offers and malicious APK or QR code links remain among the most common traps.
“A hacker doesn’t hack your phone; he hacks your mind,” Gupta said. “They study people’s social media behaviour, target those seeking jobs or investment opportunities and use fear or greed to make them act fast.”
He urged citizens to avoid clicking unknown links or installing unverified apps, as these often contain malware that grants criminals access to personal data and bank accounts. He also cautioned against scanning random QR codes, plugging into public charging ports (“juice jacking”), or sharing Aadhaar and PAN details online, which can lead to impersonation and mule account misuse.
SSP Gupta advised people to regularly verify their mobile connections through the government’s ‘Sanchar Saathi’ portal to ensure no fake SIM cards are issued in their name. He also recommended checking linked WhatsApp devices for unauthorized access and avoiding suspicious friend or job requests online.
“Fraudsters operate across borders using fake identities, spoofed calls and AI-generated videos. Never send money or personal data without verification,” he said.
Explaining how the cyber helpline 1930 works, SSP Gupta said it is directly integrated with banks and financial intermediaries. “Once a complaint is filed, money trails are instantly flagged and accounts can be frozen within minutes,” he said, calling the helpline a 24×7 lifeline for victims.
He also encouraged citizens to report through the national portal https://cybercrime.gov.in and spread awareness within communities.
“Cybercrime thrives on fear and hesitation. Awareness, vigilance and prompt action are our strongest tools. Every citizen can help create a safer digital world,” he said.
The SSP reaffirmed that CICE’s specialised teams are working round the clock with banks, payment gateways, and telecom firms to trace money trails, block mule accounts, and dismantle fraud networks operating across states.
“With rising digitalisation, cyber frauds are growing, but so is our capacity to fight back. Timely reporting and awareness can save both money and trust,” SSP Gupta added. (KNO)
