Pune, 22nd June 2023: The industrial town of Pimpri-Chinchwad has recently witnessed a surge in cybercrime cases, with an alarming rate of three cases being reported every day, as per the latest data provided by the police. This trend has prompted the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner, Vinoy Kumar Choubey, to take swift action by appointing a dedicated team comprising a police sub-inspector and two constables to tackle cyber fraud. This decision comes in the wake of training programs conducted by the top police official across all police stations in the city.
According to the police, cyber criminals are specifically targeting senior citizens, including highly educated homemakers, resulting in daily financial losses of at least Rs 25 lakh. The fraudsters employ various deceptive tactics such as luring victims with work-from-home opportunities, side businesses, and promises of extra income in their spare time. These scams have become a significant concern for law enforcement as fraudsters continuously devise new techniques to deceive unsuspecting individuals. In a recent modus operandi, perpetrators ask their potential targets to like, share, and join groups on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Google Review, and eventually Telegram, in exchange for quick money. Unfortunately, victims often remain unaware of being scammed until it is too late.
Several recent cases exemplify the severity of the issue. In one instance, a family was defrauded of Rs 1.29 crore over a period spanning from May 2021 to February 2023. The fraudsters enticed the victims with the promise of a lucrative sugar export job and initially requested a 20% advance payment before later demanding a total of Rs 9 crore. Bhagyashree Aniket Patil, a resident of Nigdi, filed a complaint, leading to the registration of a case against Jacob George from Delhi and Satnam Singh from Punjab.
In another incident reported from Baner, a senior citizen fell victim to a scam and lost Rs 7.5 lakh under the guise of receiving handsome returns. Rajendra Alekar, 61, lodged a complaint at the Hinjewadi police station regarding the incident, which occurred in the first week of June. Consequently, a case has been filed against Mahadev Jadhav, the founder of Rehan Enterprises, and other directors.
Additionally, a case emerged in Chinchwad where a woman was duped of Rs 1.73 lakh while completing an online task. The fraudsters initiated contact through WhatsApp and Telegram. Another woman fell victim to the same modus operandi and was cheated out of Rs 14.80 lakh.
In a separate incident unrelated to online fraud, a case involving a sum of Rs 35 lakh came to light. The victim was deceived under the pretense of obtaining an arm license. The Hinjewadi police station registered a case based on the complaint filed by Manohar Aburao Dagde, a resident of Bavdhan Budruk.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Satish Mane, emphasized the significance of raising awareness about cybercrime. In addition to focusing on detection and investigation, the police have undertaken awareness programs to educate the public about the risks associated with cyber fraud. To expedite the technical investigative process, a police sub-inspector and two constables have been appointed. Their responsibilities include promptly addressing complaints, freezing suspects’ bank accounts, and taking further measures to investigate each case thoroughly.
