The Chandigarh Police Cyber Crime Cell has apprehended three individuals from Delhi for allegedly operating a fraudulent call centre that targeted individuals with fake credit card schemes.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the operation involved phishing for sensitive financial information under the guise of offering credit card services. During the operation, authorities seized 13 mobile phones, nine SIM cards, and four registers containing customer data, suggesting a significant scale to the operation. Investigators are currently working to identify other individuals involved and to dismantle the entire network.
This development follows closely on the heels of Chandigarh achieving the top national ranking for its efficacy in returning defrauded money to victims in September. This achievement was noted under the Money Restoration Module (MRM) of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).
The Chandigarh Cyber Crime Cell demonstrated a remarkable performance within the MRM, successfully disposing of 244 out of 255 cases, which translates to a disposal rate of 95.69 percent. The total amount of money ordered to be returned to eligible victims amounts to Rs 88.68 lakh. This success has significantly reduced pending cases, bringing the pendency rate down to 4.31 percent from approximately 32 percent recorded at the close of July, according to the Director General of Police.
Furthermore, the city secured the fifth position nationwide in the Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM). This system is designed to handle complaints from account holders whose accounts have been frozen or placed under lien during fraud investigations. The GRM in Chandigarh now boasts a pendency rate of only 2.24 percent.
Chandigarh also distinguished itself by ranking third in India for its speed and efficiency in placing liens or holds on funds that have been fraudulently diverted. Police officials attribute this success to enhanced and faster coordination with financial institutions. The ability to freeze funds promptly is considered crucial for their successful return to the victims.
Speaking on the significance of these achievements, Chandigarh Director General of Police Dr Sagar Preet Hooda emphasized that the recovery of victims’ money is the true measure of effective cyber policing. He urged residents to exercise extreme caution and refrain from sharing One-Time Passwords (OTP), card numbers, or CVVs over phone calls, regardless of the caller’s claimed identity.
Dr Hooda further advised that in the event of being defrauded, individuals should immediately contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or report the incident on the official website, cybercrime.gov.in. He reiterated that swift reporting is instrumental in enabling law enforcement to freeze the stolen funds before they can be further dissipated, thereby increasing the chances of recovery for the victims.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
