In a significant move to curb cyber crime, Cyber Help Desk initiative has been launched in all 37 urban police stations across Bhopal from Sunday. The Cyber Help Desk was inaugurated by Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra at Habibganj Police Station. The first complaint under the new system was registered at this station, following a complaint from a retired Assistant Director of Horticulture. Responding to ‘The Hitavada’s’ query, Police Commissioner Mishra said that five to six experts will be present in every police station. Such stations which have larger areas of jurisdiction will accommodate around 10 experts.

 

The number will be dependent on the requirement and population of the area. According to police, a team of around 400 police personnel will manage Cyber Help Desks. Prior to this, all officers and staff at the stations underwent a six-day training programme to enhance their efficiency and technical knowledge. The training focused on various aspects of cyber crime prevention, technical analysis, public awareness, and investigations. Officers and staff from all 37 police stations in the city, ranging from inspectors to constables, were part of the training. During the training, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Akhil Patel emphasised on the importance of working in a chain system to trace the root cause of cyber crime. He also pointed out that technical knowledge and resources are essential for effectively tackling cyber crimes and dealing with future challenges.

 

DCP Patel shared insights on technical difficulties encountered during cyber crime investigations, the coordination with other states, and the collection of digital evidence, guiding the officers on how to handle these issues effectively. Notably, with rise of cyber crime in recent years, victims previously had to travel to Cyber Crime Branch to file complaints, which was time-consuming and often inconvenient, given that there was only one Cyber Crime Station in the city. Introduction of Cyber Help Desks at all police stations will allow victims to file complaints at their nearest station, reducing delays and providing quicker assistance. From December 1, victims of cyber fraud involving amounts up to Rs 5 lakh can now file complaints directly at their local police stations. This initiative will enable quicker action from police, including freezing the fraudulent funds, thus increasing chances of a refund for the victims. The six-day training included detailed instruction on how to upload cyber crime complaints to portals like NCCRP, JMIS, and CIER. Officers were trained on how to gather information from social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X, as well as from banks for account details and call data records (CDR). They also learned how to collect digital evidence and other vital information necessary for investigations. 

 

A 65-year-old retired Assistant Director of Horticulture Jai Govind Lala, a resident of Lajpatrai Society, Habibganj Police Station area, became a victim of cyber fraud. Lala had ordered a product worth Rs 250 from Snapdeal. When the delivery did not arrive within the expected time, he searched for the Snapdeal customer care number on Google and called to file a complaint. The person on the other end of the call claimed to be an employee of Snapdeal’s call centre. The fraudster informed Lala that the amount for the order was still pending, and it needed to be paid online. In response, Lala clarified that he had already transferred the amount. The fraudster, in the guise of providing assistance, sent a link and instructed Lala to open it and follow the directions provided, assuring him that his issue would be resolved. Following the fraudster’s instructions, Lala opened the link and as a result, Rs 1.5 lakh was deducted from his account in three separate transactions. After the money was transferred, accused stopped answering calls and Lala could not contact him again. Lala had placed the order on September 15, 2024, and the fraud occurred on September 19, 2024. He reported the incident to the police, which is currently investigating the matter.