Complaints pertaining to cybercrimes and online frauds received by the Tiruchi City Cyber Crime Police are on the rise.
In the last eight months this year, ₹14.5 crore has been lost to cyber fraudsters, going by complaints received by the Tiruchi City Cyber Crime. Of this, ₹2.29 crore has been recovered.
The Tiruchi City Cyber Crime police station, which began functioning in 2021, receives about 10 to 15 petitions pertaining to cybercrime every day. A majority of the complaints pertain to online financial frauds. The number of cases registered was 44 in the calendar year 2024 while cases booked till now this year were 12. Of these, 10 pertain to financial fraud, sources said.
The criminals have been adopting ingenious methods, leveraging technology, to dupe victims and siphon off their money without their knowledge, say police sources here.
Online scamsters have been operating with impunity through various modes targeting citizens in not only obtaining sensitive information under false pretences but also gaining unauthorised access to their accounts and committing fraud.
Complaints received in Tiruchi pertaining to cyber crimes have ranged from fake identity fraud, deceptive websites, financial scams, and digital arrest threats. The Tiruchi City Cyber Crime police had come across a couple of digital arrests cases recently and arrested accused in one of them.
Modus Operandi
Cyber criminals use different modus operandi using technology to trap and trick gullible victims. Online scams using deceptive schemes to lure people into transferring their money, online investment fraud, online shopping, and job frauds were among the host of cyber crimes reported.
In addition to this is phishing wherein cyber criminals gain the trust of the victims to obtain key information, including password and credit card details, say police sources.
Unlike criminal offences such as robbery, murder, burglary, attempt to murder and thefts, cybercrime is more complex and challenging as criminals operate from an unknown location to target the victims posing a challenge to the investigators.
The cyber criminals maintain a well-oiled network to execute their illegal activities. Getting to know about their identity is even more challenging, say the sources. Delay on the part of the victims in preferring complaints would make it difficult in recovery of the money lost.
Sources say scammers operate with fake IDs and call from numbers that cannot be reached once their job is accomplished without leaving any trace of evidence, the sources further said. Online frauds in the name of government schemes and scholarship have been reported besides online shopping scams by offering heavy discounts through fake advertisements.
The sources said lack of awareness, ignorance, fear and greed have all been causes for the steady rise in cyber crimes. The Cyber Crime Police have been sensitising people to desist from sharing their personal information, including Aadhaar and PAN from calls received from unknown numbers or callers.
Awareness was being raised among the public to desist from downloading links sent to their mobile number from open and unauthorised sources as it would pose a potential risk. Using a strong and secure password and updating it regularly is being driven home to the public. Immediate registration of cyber complaints by contacting the toll-free number 1930 was required, the officer said.
Published – September 06, 2025 09:12 pm IST
