While news about rising crime in Pune city continues to make headlines, concerning statistics on increasing cyber fraud have also come to light. Over the past nine months, from January to September, at least 163 cases of cyber fraud exceeding ₹50 lakh have been registered at the Pune Cyber Police Station.
Common scams in the city include electricity bill fraud, online task fraud, matrimony fraud, sextortion, and trade market investment scams. These fraudulent activities have significantly impacted residents across the city.
Speaking to the Free Press Journal, Suresh Shinde, Senior Police Inspector at the Pune Cyber Police Station, emphasized the importance of awareness. “People need to be properly aware while doing any transaction. Fraudsters are creating dummy applications of online marketplaces. They have various methods to trap the public,” he said.
Shinde also pointed out that most criminals involved in these cyber frauds are from states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. He urged banks to monitor large transactions from single accounts more closely and to implement stricter processes for current accounts.
Additionally, he noted that many of the main operators of cyber fraudster gangs operate from other countries, and the average age of these criminals ranges between 18 and 45 years. While investigations are ongoing, Shinde mentioned that resolving such cases takes time.
### Alarming Cyber Fraud Statistics in Pune
– **Cases exceeding ₹50 lakh:** 163 registered at the Cyber Police Station, including 24 cases filed by senior citizens
– **Cases below ₹50 lakh:** Over 1,175 reported across various police stations citywide
– **Arrests made:** 15 arrests in 8 cases so far
– **Amount looted:** Criminals have stolen ₹163 crore through cyber fraud from January to September
– **Amount recovered:** ₹91.34 lakh recovered to date
These figures highlight the growing threat of cybercrime in Pune and underscore the need for vigilance among citizens and stricter measures from financial institutions and law enforcement agencies.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/pune-cyber-fraud-surge-163-cases-with-scam-over-50-lakh-till-september-163-crore-looted-only-9134-lakh-recovered-with-15-arrests-in-8-cases