Cybercrime complaints on rise, early detection critical in mitigating damage: City top cop

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: With cybercrime complaints on the rise, early detection is critical in mitigating the damage, stressed Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda on Thursday, adding that ''awareness is our best defence." Speaking at the Cyber Jagruthi awareness program, launched at Rockwood Green Public School here, Dayananda said his is motivated to support the program because of the increasing number of cybercrimes, particularly those targeting younger people. He pointed out that the program is crucial in educating people about online fraud, especially in semi-urban areas where internet literacy is often lower. While speaking to News Trail Dr. A.S. Shankarnarayana, Assistant Director of Bengaluru Akashvani who was present, stressed on the need for vigilance in the digital space.

"Just as physical crimes are rising, intellectual crimes like cybercrimes are becoming more common. Our mission with Cyber Jagruthi is to create a society that is better equipped to handle these threats," he said, reinforcing the educational aspect of the program. He further mentioned that the initiative is a continuation of their earlier programs, aimed at sensitising the public about the growing risks online. Police Inspector Shivaratna, who oversees cyber and economic crimes in Bengaluru North, shed light on the most common cyber crimes affecting the community, including phishing scams, financial fraud, and social media manipulation. "We see an average of 3,000 complaints each month. Hackers prey on those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the internet, which is why awareness is essential for all age groups," he noted.

His advice for the public: "Be cautious when accepting friend requests or clicking on links. Double-check everything and protect your personal information diligently." In recent years, cybercriminals have become more organized, using sophisticated techniques like ransomware attacks and exploiting social engineering to trick victims. Tarun Krishnamurthy from Amzen Technologies urged the public to "never share passwords or OTPs, especially with strangers." With programs like Cyber Jagruthi , the hope is to strengthen the community's defences against such threats.