Mysuru police have intensified their efforts to combat a rising wave of cyberfrauds that have swindled retired government employees out of up to Rs 1 crore each in the past two weeks. The frauds have primarily targeted seniors, exploiting their financial resources through sophisticated scams.
On Tuesday, a cyber police team led by CEN police wing ACP Sneharaj N conducted an awareness campaign at Kukkarahalli Lake. This initiative marks a shift in focus from educational institutions to IT professionals and retired employees, who are increasingly falling victim to these schemes.
The recent scams involve fraudsters using trading applications that promise high returns. They lure victims into fake WhatsApp groups where fabricated success stories are shared, convincing seniors to invest substantial amounts. The app displays false profits, which deceives the victims into believing in its legitimacy. The frauds typically involve multiple transactions, and victims only realize the scam when the fraudsters become unreachable.
Another common fraud type involves digital arrests, where scammers impersonate central agency officers. They falsely accuse victims of involvement in smuggling or other criminal activities, using personal information and police uniforms in video calls to add credibility. The scammers then demand money to clear the charges.
With approximately 182 cyber fraud cases reported this year alone and an average of 250 cases annually in Mysuru, the police are expanding their outreach. ACP Sneharaj emphasized the importance of educating seniors and IT professionals about these scams and announced plans to visit popular hangouts like parks for awareness sessions.
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