SSP Mohammad Yasin Kichlu, head of excellence for the Crime Investigation Center of Jammu and Kashmir, said on Friday that 95% of the 95% cyber crime reported in Jammu and Kashmir includes bank fraud, while 12% are related to other forms of child abuse, sex and digital misuse.
Addressing a press conference, Kichlu said that most cyber fraud cases include either financial theft or personal exploitation. “In 95% of cases, bank accounts are dried. In 12%, we see examples of child abuse, sexual harassment or sex.”
He also said that cybercrime is becoming a serious threat, developing techniques that target people through social engineering, malware and even fake job proposals. He urged the public to be vigilant, avoid sharing sensitive information and report the cyber police to report suspicious activity.
Kichlu stated that cyber crime is a growing concern, and while the Department of Crime is actively investigating and responding, more public awareness is important. He said, “Common people cannot be fully aware of those risks in the digital world. That is why I have come here to raise awareness from Jammu,” he said.
He said, “Cybercrime has become a science in itself, and the government of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a great initiative by approving cyber police stations in every district. These stations are also supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),” he said.
He said that “digital arrest” fraud has increased, where people receive fake calls that police officers or government officials receive fake calls, telling them that they are under investigation or their family members are in trouble. “Recently, some teachers in Kashmir were targeted through such a digital arrest call on WhatsApp. Thankfully, they contacted us, and we saved them from getting stuck,” he said.
The SSP said, “Use uniforms and official language to intimidate such fraudulent victims. They pose as CBI officers, police, judges, or even bank officials. People should not fall for these strategies or share any personal details,” SSP said.
Kichlu said that the cybercrime unit has developed a mechanism to recover the stolen money when reported within the “Golden Hour” soon after the fraud. “If someone contacts us within that golden hour, we can freeze fraud transactions. Last year, we recovered around Rs 7 crore and returned it to people’s accounts,” he said.
Emphasizing digital hygiene, he said that people often ignore basic safety settings. “You can enable two-factor authentication on WhatsApp for additional protection. Many people do not know this and later their WhatsApp is being hacked,” he said.
He said that even with all passwords and OTP protection, it is a human brain that is compromised when a person inadvertently shares his OTP or pin with a fraud. He said, “Never share your OTP or PIN, even if someone claims that your Amazon parcel has come and asks for it. These are social engineering tricks,” he said.
He also warned about Facebook cloning, where fraudsters mimic the profiles and details of someone, then send a friend request to contact and trick them to send money.
“People use high-pixel profile pictures and accept random friend requests. It allows fraud to easily clone accounts,” he said.
Speaking on new threats, the SSP said that cyber criminals are now embedding malware in photos and PDF files. He said, “You can get a photo whether you recognize a missing person. The image may have malware or virus that is downloaded on your phone and compromises your data,” he said.
This technique is called Stagnography, where the malicious code is hidden in a file that appears innocent. “Once you click on it, the gallery, apps and bank details of your phone can be compromised,” he said.
He also warned against clicking suspected PDF, even if he comes from trusted sources such as offices or colleagues. “Cyber fraudsters are now using such a strategy to infect your device,” he said.
Speaking on the trends of two dangerous cyber crime, ie pig butcher and cyber slavery, SSP said that they are becoming very common in Kashmir. “In cyber slavery, children and youth are lured through fake placement agencies promising jobs abroad. They are taken to the borders of countries such as Cambodia or Myanmar, where they are closed in rooms and forced to run cyber scams,” he said.
He appealed to parents and children to verify all jobs and placement agencies before trusting them. “Otherwise, your child may be a victim of cyber slavery. These are real threats, and cases are being reported in J&K,” he said.
He warned people against charging their phones at public charging stations such as airports or restaurants. “Hackers can also compromise on your phone through a charger. Always take a power bank and be cautious when giving their phone for scanning or photocopy,” he said.
He warned against sharing individual mobile numbers and email IDs in further restaurants or during online transactions. “These details are often used to launch target attacks by cyber criminal,” he said.
Speaking about the increasing number of sexuality cases, where the victims get unexpected WhatsApp or Messenger video calls. “If replied, on the other side, the fraudsters, who presented a semi-naked or naked girl or boy, recorded the call and later blackmailed the victim, threatened to post it online or send it to family members,” the SSP said.
He said, “This is not the fault of the victim. But out of fear, people often pay money to blackmails. In such cases, do not panic. Immediately call on 1930 or inform the nearest cyber police station,” he said.
Closing with a message of assurance, SSP said. “You are not alone. Cyber police are 24/7 with you. If you face any problem, reach us through the helpline 1930 or go to your nearest cyber police station.”
He said that Cybercrime is the top priority of the Department of Awareness, and under the guidance of the DGP, the police is committed to the people to be favorable and responsible.
“Through this awareness, we want to protect every citizen from cyber fraud. Your security is our responsibility,” SSP said.