Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Dec 21 (KNS): In response to the escalating multi-crore scam in the Kashmir Valley and the growing threat of cybercrime, Cyber Police Kashmir issues a robust advisory, urging the public to exercise caution and avoid falling victim to various online frauds.
Digital frauds, particularly through social media platforms and deceptive phone calls, have become a concerning trend in the region, causing harm to numerous individuals.
Despite repeated alerts from Cyber Police Kashmir about a surge in cybercrime complaints, emphasizing the misuse of social media, the valley continues to witness sophisticated cyber-attacks.
A top official in cyber police Kashmir stressed the critical need for individuals to be vigilant in managing their digital lives.
The official warned that even a minor lapse in online security could provide cybercriminals with opportunities to steal money or tarnish one's reputation.
“Various cybercrimes, including phishing, data theft, identity theft, online lottery scams, cyber-attacks, job frauds, banking frauds, cyber-bullying, online blackmailing, morphing, revenge porn, cyber hacking, child pornography, cyber grooming, cyber-stalking, data diddling, software piracy, and online radicalization, are on the rise in the region, the official told KNS, requesting anonymity.
Financial fraud trends, such as OTP/vishing fraud, online marketplace frauds, online gaming scams, job/loan offer frauds, online shopping frauds, and app frauds, were highlighted by the official as emerging concerns.
Cyber Police Kashmir is actively addressing these issues, resulting in the arrest of numerous cybercriminals facing legal proceedings.
In the past the Cyber Police Station Kashmir has played a crucial role in recovering lost or stolen mobile phones, returning 340 devices, collectively valued at lakhs of rupees, to their rightful owners.
Under the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone Srinagar, Cyber Police Kashmir has initiated awareness campaigns through electronic and print media, pamphlets, social media platforms, and radio broadcasts. These campaigns aim to educate the public about contemporary online frauds and the misuse of social media.
News agency KNS reported that the Cyber Police Kashmir urged the public to exercise extreme caution, avoiding falling for cybercrime frauds such as unexpected prize or lottery wins, job offers, installation of mobile tower offers, loan offers, and insurance bonus offers.
“Individuals are strongly advised not to share personal or bank details or transfer funds to unknown persons. Reporting such incidents promptly to the Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone, Srinagar, is encouraged to facilitate swift action against cybercriminals”.(KNS)