Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In response to the growing incidence of cybercrimes, particularly financial frauds, the Goa police are stepping up their efforts to inform and shield residents from online dangers.
In light of the holiday season, the police launched the “Cyber Safe Goa” awareness campaign, advising the public to exercise caution and stay safe online.
The police added that as part of the program, they will connect with local target groups, interact with netizens on social media, train school representatives to raise awareness of cybercrimes among students, and reach out to Ganesh festival gatherings.
In order to maximize the campaign’s effectiveness, the police plan to distribute audio messages in both Hindi and Konkani, display bilingual awareness banners, and stage street plays that highlight the techniques used by cybercriminals.
There were 168 fraud incidents registered between January 2019 and June 2024, and in 83 of these, the complainants lost over Rs 24.26 crore. As of mid-June this year, 31 incidents have been reported, with 19 victims having lost almost Rs 11.50 crore.
In contrast, the police were also able to rescue Rs 6.73 crore in a number of incidents that were reported on the cybercrime portal and through the 1930 helpline.
According to the police, they were able to freeze Rs 3.73 crore in complaints made through the 1930 helpline, of which Rs 2.71 crore was frozen this year. They also managed to freeze Rs 3 crore in complaints filed through the cybercrime webpage.
