PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
Cyber fraud in the name of e-challan has increased in the State with complaints of such scams rising. According to official sources, residents of Uttarakhand reportedly lost around Rs 180 crore in cyber fraud cases in 2025. Nearly 32,000 complaints were recorded during the year, which is higher than the previous year.
Despite the awareness campaigns by the cyber crime police on different platforms, the number of cases is increasing every year. This has made cyber fraud a daily threat for common people and a serious challenge for the police.
Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Kush Mishra said that the department has created a WhatsApp community to spread awareness. Daily messages are shared to inform people about how to stay safe from cyber fraud. People are advised to use only official websites for services like e-challan and to avoid clicking on unknown links. They are also warned not to download APK files from untrusted sources.
Police data shows that only a small portion of the stolen money has been recovered. In the past five years, about Rs 475 crore has been lost in cyber fraud cases in Uttarakhand with about Rs 70 crore being recovered so far. Many victims do not report such crimes, which makes it harder for police to track and recover the money.
The police and cyber cell have appealed to citizens to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious call, message, or link on the cyber helpline number 1930. People are also advised not to share OTPs or personal details with anyone. Despite continuous efforts, cyber criminals are using new methods to target people.
