As cybercrime continues to rise across India, Jabalpur has emerged as a hotspot for digital fraud. Local police report an alarming surge in online scams, with nearly ₹12 crore lost in the past few months. Over 497 complaints have been registered, prompting officials to issue a strong advisory for public awareness and vigilance.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement, only ₹84 lakh has been recovered so far. Police officials revealed that in many cases, stolen money is quickly converted into cryptocurrencies and sent abroad, making recovery difficult. Educated and tech-savvy individuals have also fallen victim to these scams, indicating the sophisticated nature of the frauds.
Common Cyber Scams Reported in Jabalpur
A wide range of cyber scams have been reported, each targeting people through different tactics. The following are some of the most prevalent:
- WhatsApp Photo Scam: Fraudsters send malicious images that can compromise your device once downloaded.
- Digital Arrest Scam: Victims receive calls pretending to be from law enforcement, falsely accusing them of financial crimes and demanding payments.
- Fake Investment Offers: High-return investment scams, especially involving crypto or stock markets.
- Bank Impersonation: Scammers pose as bank representatives and ask for sensitive information such as OTPs.
- Sextortion: Fraudsters make unsolicited video calls, record victims, and then blackmail them.
- Facebook Friendship Scams: Fake online friendships are created to build trust and eventually ask for money.
- Medical Admission Fraud: Students and parents are targeted with fake admission offers into reputed medical colleges.
- E-SIM Fraud: Victims are tricked into sharing OTPs, granting fraudsters access to their mobile number and linked bank accounts.
- Fake Wedding Invitations and Traffic Challans: Clicking suspicious links in these messages can lead to device and bank account compromise.
- Online Task Scam: People are lured with promises of earning money for completing tasks but are asked to pay money upfront.
How to Stay Safe from Cyber Scams
The Jabalpur Police have urged citizens to remain cautious and follow basic cyber safety measures:
- Do not click on suspicious links or download unknown files.
- Never share OTPs, passwords, or banking details.
- Enable two-step verification for all important accounts.
- Keep antivirus and phone security updated.
- Report cyber frauds immediately by calling 1930 or visiting the nearest cyber police station.
- Additional SP stated, “The sooner we know, the better chances we have to stop the fraud and recover money.” Early reporting and public awareness are key to minimising losses and catching offenders.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.