Cybercrime losses halved, recovery rate improving, says DGP in Sirsa

Cybercrime in Haryana has become a serious concern, with frauds worth Rs 35 to Rs 37 crore taking place every month. Scammers are using new and clever tricks to target people across the state. However, according to the state police, the situation is improving, thanks to prompt action and better coordination.

Director-General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapoor, who visited Sirsa on Sunday, said that cybercrime losses have reduced significantly. “In April 2024, cyber frauds were worth Rs 75 crore in a single month, now that number has come down by half,” he said.

One of the biggest achievements has been in money recovery. “A year and a half ago, we could recover only 8 to 10 per cent of the stolen money. Now, we are recovering 35 to 38 per cent,” Kapoor added.

Quick reporting also plays a big role. If a fraud is reported within six hours, the police can block 70 to 75 per cent of the stolen money. This is possible due to cooperation between the police and the banks. Now, bank nodal officers and police teams work under one roof and respond faster through the 1930 helpline.

The number of arrests has also seen a sharp rise. In 2022, nearly 500 cyber criminals were caught. In 2023, the number rose to 1,900. So far in 2024, nearly 5,500 have been arrested. Kapoor said the police were now arresting about 22 cyber criminals every day, and by the end of the year, the number could reach 8,000. “In just three years, arrests have gone up 16 times. This shows how seriously we are fighting cybercrime,” Kapoor said.

Haryana Tribune