State registered 2,163 investment-related cybercrimes, 455 arrests made: CM

A total of 2163 cybercrimes linked to investment scams were recorded in Maharashtra last year and 455 people were arrested in connection with the cases Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state assembly on TuesdayCM Fadnavis who also oversees the home department said the state has enhanced measures to combat cyber fraud focusing on protecting vulnerable groups including women children and senior citizens reported PTIldquoThe Maharashtra Cyber Security Project has been implemented with advanced technology and skilled manpower with headquarters at Mahape in Navi Mumbairdquo he noted in a written reply to a question by Congress MLA Aslam ShaikhHe added that a nodal cyber police station has been established while 50 district cyber labs and police units are functioning to investigate technically complex cybercrimesAround 1000 police officers trained in forensic toolsAccording to PTI the CM highlighted that 26 expert consultants have trained around 1000 police officers and staff in the use of forensic tools for cyber investigationsFadnavis cited examples of largescale investment frauds where victims were lured through fake trading applications and social media platforms resulting in losses running into crores of rupeesHe also said awareness campaigns are being conducted through social media the official portal wwwcybercrimegovin and the cyber helpline number 1930 to help people report and prevent cybercrimesNavi Mumbai police bust fake call centre suspects defrauding of over Rs 1 crore two heldLast week the Navi Mumbai police busted a fake call centre in Mahape located in the northern part of Navi Mumbai that allegedly cheated people of more than Rs 1 crore by promising high returns through share market tradingTwo people were arrested in connection with the scam officials saidThe raid was conducted on March 12 by the polices financial intelligence and cyber units following a tipoffHow the call centre operatedDuring the raid police found 22 young men and women working at the fake call centre premises They were communicating with potential victims via WhatsApp chats and phone calls using computers the police said The call centre was operating under the name of a share market research companyIts staff contacted individuals claiming they could provide investment opportunities in intraday and equity stock trading while promises of attractive high profitsChats recovered from the computers revealed that victims were promised higher returns if they invested in the stock market through the company The victims were asked to transfer money to bank accounts shared by the call centre operatorsPreliminary investigations suggested that the call centre had defrauded people of at least Rs 102 crore by sending payment links and directing victims to transfer funds to the companyrsquos account as well as 18 other bank accounts as per PTI reportsCyber complaints and ArrestsPolice checked the accounts linked to the call centre on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and found that at least five cyber fraud complaints from across India were connected to the accountsTwo people have been arrested in connection with the case neamely Shivam Vinodkumar Dubey 29 and Sujit Masicharan Warimiki 30 They are both residents of Thane district Their exact role in the call centre has not been specified Another accused is currently absconding and the police is making efforts to trace himA case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita the police said Investigations are ongoing to identify any further links and prevent similar scams in the futureThe crackdown highlights the policersquos commitment to tackling such scams and safeguarding the public from fraudulent schemesWith PTI Inputs