Despite repeated advisories and warnings by the cybercrime department, gullible people continue to fall into the trap of cyber fraud in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The latest incident has been reported from Srinagar, where an elderly couple fell victim to an elaborate cyber fraud and lost a staggering Rs 48 lakh after scammers trapped them in a fake "digital arrest" scam by posing as officials of central investigative agencies.
Reports said the scammers contacted the couple through a WhatsApp video call, falsely claiming to be officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and alleged their involvement in a major financial fraud case.
The fraudsters sent fabricated CBI and TRAI orders and threatened to freeze the couple's bank accounts and seize their property. They further subjected the victims to continuous video surveillance for several days, even restricting their movement and forbidding them from leaving their residence without permission.
Living under intense psychological pressure and fear, the elderly couple ultimately transferred ₹48 lakh to the fraudsters, an official said.
Meanwhile, the Cyber Crime Investigation Centre for Excellence (CCICE), Crime Branch J&K, has once again cautioned the public that there is no concept of "digital arrest" and urged people facing such situations to immediately report the matter on helpline number 1930 or through the official portal www.cybercrime.gov.in
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An official noted that senior citizens living alone are often targeted in such scams and advised people to remain vigilant to avoid falling prey to cyber fraudsters.
Nearly 22 lakh cheating-related cyber fraud complaints in 2025
According to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, 21,77,524 cheating-related online fraud complaints were received in 2025, in which around Rs 19,812.96 crore was lost.
Out of the total loss of Rs 19,812 crore in 2025, about 77 per cent occurred in the name of investment schemes, 8 per cent through digital arrest scams, 7 per cent via credit card fraud, 4 per cent in sextortion cases, 3 per cent in e-commerce fraud, and 1 per cent due to app- or malware-based fraud, the data cited in the report revealed.
In 2024, about Rs 22,849.49 crore was lost, and 19,18,852 complaints were received, while in 2023, around Rs 7,463.2 crore was lost and 13,10,361 complaints were registered, the report said.
Similarly, about Rs 2,290.23 crore was lost and 6,94,446 complaints were received in 2022, while Rs 551.65 crore was lost and 2,62,846 complaints were received in 2021. In 2020, losses amounted to about Rs 8.56 crore, with 1,27,746 complaints recorded.
