According to a top police official, there has been a notable surge in internet fraud cases in the state of Mizoram this year, with criminals allegedly defrauding locals of more than Rs 8 crore between January and September. The concerning pattern emphasizes the increasing danger of cybercrime, especially financial frauds, which account for about 80% of incidents that are recorded. Officials revealed the alarming figures of monetary losses brought on by internet fraud at a recent public awareness event hosted by the Mizoram Journalists’ Association in cooperation with the Mizoram Police. Cybercriminals accumulated an incredible Rs 8,00,31,849.35 between January and September, with July seeing the highest losses at Rs 2.57 million. Significant theft occurred in other months as well, with losses totaling more than Rs 1 crore.
The bulk of these scams, according to the police, include impersonation fraud and fraudulent investment schemes, in which scammers pretend to be trustworthy organizations in order to trick victims. The “army scam,” in which con artists pose as members of the armed forces to gain the trust of potential victims before persuading them to send money, is among the most well-known schemes that have been discovered. Only roughly 10% of the lost money has been successfully recovered, according to law enforcement officials, despite the difficulties in recovering stolen monies. It is thought that a large number of the offenders are from states other than Mizoram, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
