Haryana Additional Director General of Police (State Crime Branch) on Sunday said that the State has witnessed a surge in complaints of cybercrime in recent years and during the first six months of 2022, around 1,000 cases have been registered against a total of 366 in 2019.

The State Police has blocked nearly Rs seven crore from being transferred to the accounts of cyber criminals between January and June this year while acting on the complaints of the people, he added.

The senior Haryana Police officer said that with the juggernaut of digitisation on the roll and more and more of everyday life going online, also on the rise is hacking of data, network and system by outlaws to clean up bank accounts and victimise vulnerable people.

“Most vulnerable to hacking is the human mind. Most common modus operandi is social engineering - duping people through glib talk and a variety of other means to make them part with their unique identification number and sensitive data,” he added.

Talking to journalists, Singh said: “On the basis of complaints of cybercrime reported on cybercrime helpline 1930, between January 1 to June 2022, state police has blocked Rs 6.8 crore from being transferred to 'cyberthugs' account and returned it to the victims.”

At present, over a 1,000 police officials are grappling with cyber-criminals at 309 cyber desks and 29 police stations. “These units receive complaints directly as well as through cybercrime helpline number 1930,” he added.

Giving more information, he said: “Police have registered 366 cases in 2019, 676 in 2020, 670 in 2021 and 1010 in the first six month of 2022.

Singh said that with a surge in complaints of cybercrime over the years, the State police is responding with training its manpower in cybercrime investigation and setting up a cyber desk in every police station and a cyber police station at every district and Range headquarters.

The State Crime Branch is working on a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness programme called 'Cyber Safe India' with an aim to make people aware about cyber security. The programme also aims to create awareness among students about job opportunities in cyber security, he added.