Hyderabad: The steady increase in cases of cybercrime is posing a major challenge to law enforcement agencies. “The future crime is cybercrime,” said the Hyderabad police.
Hundreds of cybercrime cases were reported during the Covid-linked lockdowns. As many as 1,883 cybercrime cases were registered, against only 1,393 cases in 2019.
Additional commissioner of police, crimes, Shikha Goel, said the increase in cybercrime cases during 2021 was by 55 per cent. "The future crime is cybercrime. Everyone uses devices and smartphones for money transactions by making payments in digital mode.
Miscreants target many. The cybercrime police have arrested 265 accused from different states, besides 13 foreigners, for indulging in several such offences," Shikha Goel said. She said that previously, such complaints used to be accepted from the cybercrime wing. As the cases increased, policemen at all law and order police stations were allowed to accept complaints, investigate them and arrest the accused.
"Those who make transactions online and do digital payments must be aware about the guidelines of cyber law and comply strictly with the terms of use of online platforms. Miscreants take advantage of unsecured online platforms and indulge in looting the people," the additional commissioner said.
Meanwhile, the Central Crime Station (CCS) police have frozen 1,206 bank accounts involving Rs 80 crore and 16 properties worth Rs 23 crore have been attached.
