Uttarakhand Cybercrime Report: ₹500 Cr Lost in 5 Years; New Pay Commission Fraud Detected.

In Uttarakhand, cybercriminals are siphoning off ₹1.14 lakh from people's accounts every hour on average. Based on nearly 90,000 complaints filed across the state in the last five years, fraudsters have siphoned off nearly ₹500 crore. This translates to approximately ₹27 lakh being defrauded every day and approximately ₹100 crore annually. Now, fraudsters have resorted to a new tactic, luring government employees with information related to the Eighth Pay Commission.

Of this vast sum, only approximately ₹70 crore has been recovered so far. A single call, a link, or a single click can wipe out people's life savings in seconds. Cybercriminals are constantly employing new methods, including fake calls, digital arrests, phishing links, APK files, and fake customer care numbers on Google. In recent cases, APK files are being sent to government employees' mobile phones under the guise of providing updates regarding the Eighth Pay Commission. As soon as the person downloads the file, the mobile is hacked and the money is withdrawn from the bank account.

In 2025, the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) cyber team raided Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal and arrested 18 accused.

These cases revealed fraud ranging from ₹14 lakh to ₹1.47 crore in the name of digital arrest, investment scams, share trading fraud, fake customer care, and distributorships. The accused would pose as police officers, bank employees, or company representatives, intimidating or luring people into transferring money. The STF is now investigating their interstate network.

The lure of investment scams and the network of fake groups

Cyber ​​fraudsters are targeting most people in the name of investment. Messages are sent to people: Invest 5,000, get 15,000, or Invest 100,000, get 1.5 lakh. After this, the person is added to a Telegram or WhatsApp group.

Most of the members in these groups are cyber fraudsters who show fake screenshots and messages claiming that their money has doubled. This creates psychological pressure on the person, and they are lured into investing. Once the money is transferred, it is then transferred to multiple accounts and withdrawn.

Digital Arrest, Fraud Using APK Files and Fake Links

Cyber ​​criminals are constantly changing their methods and adopting new tactics to defraud people. In recent cases, mobile data is being stolen by sending APK files in the name of the Eighth Pay Commission. Similarly, fake links are being sent in the name of RTO challans, which, upon clicking, provide access to banking information to hackers.

Fake messages in the name of Mudra loans, bank calls under the pretext of KYC updates and fraud by asking for OTP, emptying accounts through UPI and QR codes, hacking social media accounts and demanding money – all these methods are increasing rapidly.

The most dangerous method is "digital arrest." In this, fraudsters pose as police officers and claim a case has been filed against them, demanding that they immediately transfer money to avoid arrest. Taking advantage of fear and anxiety, the accused defraud people of lakhs of rupees.

Why is recovery difficult? The game is linked to foreign networks.

According to the police, in many cases, the mastermind of cyber fraud is based in countries like Cambodia and Hong Kong. The money is transferred to multiple accounts and reaches abroad, making recovery extremely difficult.

Often, those who are caught are merely account holders whose accounts have been used. Reaching the real culprits is challenging.

Beware of unknown links, do not share OTPs.

With the increasing cases of cyber fraud, vigilance is the best protection. Avoid clicking on any unknown links or APK files, as these are used to hack mobile phones and gain access to bank accounts. Do not share your OTP, bank details, or passwords with anyone, even if the person claims to be an employee of a bank or a government agency.

Before investing, be sure to check the company's official website and its SEBI registration. Avoid calling customer care numbers found through Google searches, as they often display fake numbers. Always invest money only on authorized and trusted platforms to avoid the risk of fraud.

If you receive a suspicious call or suspect a fraud, report it to 1930.

Cyber ​​ASP Kush Mishra urged people not to trust any suspicious calls, links, or messages. If you suspect cyber fraud, immediately call the 1930 helpline. A timely complaint can save money by freezing your bank account.

He stated that awareness is the most important way to avoid cyber fraud. Cyber ​​fraudsters are constantly adopting new methods, so people must be equally vigilant and savvy.