Patna: The Patna district administration has stepped up its efforts to tackle cybercrime and online financial fraud, directing officials to expedite recovery of victims’ money, track mule bank accounts and identify networks involved in issuing SIM cards using forged documents. A district-wide awareness campaign, including promotion of the national cybercrime helpline 1930 and special ‘Cyber Tuesday’ programmes, will also be launched.District magistrate Kundan Kumar, while reviewing measures to prevent cybercrime on Saturday, directed officials to combine faster police and bank action with extensive public awareness. He said cybercriminals were constantly adopting new methods and stressed the need to educate citizens about emerging threats and ensure prompt action after fraud.The administration has decided to promote the 1930 national cybercrime helpline through everyday public services. The number will be prominently displayed on electricity bills and mobile applications used for electricity bill payments and recharges. Similar publicity will be undertaken through Sudha milk and other products, as well as at Sudha parlours.The Patna Municipal Corporation has also been asked to use digital display boards, LED screens and other prominent public locations to regularly display messages on cybercrime prevention and the 1930 helpline.Under the ‘Cyber Tuesday’ initiative, schools, colleges and other educational institutions across the district will organise awareness programmes. Students and young people will be educated about digital arrest scams, fraudulent calls, OTP fraud, suspicious links, banking fraud and cybercrime through social media. The aim is to encourage students not only to protect themselves but also to spread awareness among their families and communities, the DM said.He also directed officials to identify organised cybercrime networks and verify mule accounts being used to route money obtained through fraud. The cybercell and banks have been asked to coordinate promptly to trace and recover money lost by victims.Police officials have been instructed to expedite the e-Zero FIR process in cyber and financial fraud cases involving more than Rs1 lakh and ensure that such complaints are promptly converted into regular FIRs.The DM said, “Cybercrime and financial fraud will now also feature prominently in meetings of the District Level Banking Committee. Officials will regularly review the freezing of mule accounts, action against suspicious transactions and progress in recovering money belonging to victims.”The administration is also targeting networks involved in issuing SIM cards using forged documents. All station house officers and police officials have been directed to identify agents and organised groups supplying such SIM cards and take strict legal action against them.The district administration has appealed to citizens not to share OTPs, PINs, CVVs, passwords or banking details with strangers and to avoid clicking on suspicious links. People have also been warned against fraudsters posing as police officers, CBI, ED or other govt officials and threatening victims through phone or video calls in the name of ‘digital arrest’.The DM urged people to remain calm in such situations and immediately report cyber or financial fraud by calling 1930, saying that quick reporting could improve the chances of stopping fraudulent transactions and recovering the money.
