Cybercrime rates in Karnataka have surged in the past 12 months. The losses are alleged to have been in excess of ₹100 crore, indicative of such a serious threat to our region. Cybercriminals are going after everyday banking, shopping platforms, payment apps and social media accounts all out to ruin users’ lives. In the vast majority of cases, victims lose lakhs of rupees in minutes. In these cases, to minimize the impacts of such emergencies, a swift response is imperative to mitigate the impact.
Safety
Every person needs to take care when they engage in virtual transactions online and digital transactions. Never click on anything that users come across through unknown links found in strange emails, SMSs, WhatsApp texts, phone calls you’re not familiar with you cannot see you never do. All services should utilise strong, unique passwords and utilize 2FA at all the time and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and strong new password controls. These simple behaviours can prevent damage to your bottom line.
What to Do At The ‘Golden Hour’
The first 60 to 120 minutes after someone does a cyber fraud is called the “Golden Hour”. Reporting the situation right now allows authorities another chance to block or freeze the transaction, track down the suspect and protect your online accounts. The sooner you do something, the better the chance you have of winning your money back.
Helpline Numbers for Getting Help Right Away
- 1930 – National Cyber Crime Helpline (24×7)
- 155260 – Toll-free help at national cyber crime reporting portal
- 112 – Emergency police aid
Bengaluru Local Contact
Cyber Crime Police Station, Bengaluru
+91-80-2220-1026 / +91-80-2294-3050
Online Complaint & Tracking
Go register a complaint and follow up via the official means. However, reporting in a timely manner enables authorities to intervene in a timely manner and potentially limit financial loss to the impacted party. If you see any red flag of fraudulent activity, notify your bank and law enforcement immediately.
Finally, the more cyber frauds, the more I must be vigilant! The best guard you have is awareness and fast action.
