Over Rs 25 Cr stolen by cyber criminals in 2024
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 23 2025: A total of Rs 25,45,34,000 were stolen by cyber criminals in Manipur through mobile phones, computers and ATMs in 2024, and a large number of the victims belong to low income groups who saved their earnings by sacrificing daily and other necessities.

Talking to The Sangai Express, an official of Cyber Crime Police Station, Manipur appealed to all the people to use strong passwords for all their digital gadgets and banking apps.

With the advancement of technology, online transactions have become the order of the day instead of standing in long queues in front of ATM booths or cash counters of banks, thereby saving both time and energy.

Over Rs 25 Cr stolen by cyber criminals in 2024

But this advancement of technology has also its drawbacks or loopholes with many criminal elements or frauds always searching for ways and means to rob people's hard earned money.

These criminal elements and frauds are also resorting to blackmailing people through social media, said the official, on condition of anonymity.

According to a report received from the Cyber Crime Police Station, out of Rs 25,45,34,000 stolen by cyber criminals and frauds, only Rs 2,42,23,000 have been recovered.

There are some common reasons for the authority's failure to recover large chunks of the stolen money.

Lack of awareness on the part of the victims regarding where they should lodge their complaints, late reporting of such crimes, inability to furnish bank statements on time and the long time taken in tracking multi-layered transactions which happen to be the popular modus operandi of such criminals are some of the common reasons for the authority's failure to recover bigger portions of the stolen amounts, said the official.

He said that adequate awareness about cyber crimes is the most effective means of keeping cyber criminals and financial frauds at bay.

Saying that Manipur Police have been organising cyber awareness programmes at the level of schools, colleges and local clubs, he appealed to all the people to join these awareness programmes and know what exactly are cyber crimes.

The official further appealed to all the people to report to Cyber Crime Police telephone number 1930 immediately or report online through the website www.cybercrime.gov.in if any one has been victimised by cyber criminals or financial frauds.

NIELIT Imphal Scientist E Dr Angom Buboo said that cyber constitutes digital communication networks involving computers, smart mobile phones etc.

Now the word cyber encompasses Internet of Things (IoT) or physical objects like smart television, refrigerators, cameras and other appliances connected with the internet.

Stealing money and blackmailing people through social media after accessing one's smart mobile phone, computer, bank or ATM details without authorisation are the two most common forms of cyber crimes, Dr Buboo said.

From legal perspective, any action that violates the Information Technology (IT) Act 2000 constitutes cyber crime.

Unauthorised access to one's mobile phone or computer is known as hacking.

Accessing and misusing somebody's social media account is called identity theft, he said.

Cyber terrorism, identity theft, violation of privacy through social media and sharing of photos/videos through social media without the owners' consent are all punishable under the IT Act, he said.

Stealing money from ATMs or ATM skimming is also a form of cyber crime.

ATM skimming is a type of fraud in which criminals use a device to steal credit or debit card information from ATM users.

Skimming devices are typically placed on or near the card slot of an ATM and are designed to look like legitimate parts of the machine.

If one suspects ATM skimming, the matter should be reported immediately to the relevant bank, Dr Buboo said.

There are also cases of frauds posing as bank officials and calling unsuspecting people saying that the receiver's ATM card has expired and it would be blocked soon.

Genuine bank officials will never make such calls.

Sextortion or blackmailing for sexual favours is another cyber crime which is reported widely nowadays and it generally targets women.

Saying that recorded video calls can be used later for blackmailing, he appealed to all the people, particularly women, to be very careful while making or receiving video calls.

"Everything we do on smart phones and computers leave digital imprints.

If one commits unlawful acts, it will have digital records", he said.

He then appealed to all the people to reap the benefits and advantages offered by mobile phones and computers but be always wary of cyber crimes.