95% of cybercrime cases in Jammu Kashmir involve bank fraud, says SSP

June 27, 2025 by News Desk

SSP Mohammad Yaseen Kichloo, head of Jammu Kashmir’s Crime Investigation Centre for Excellence (CICE), on Friday said that 95 percent of cybercrime cases in the region involve bank-related frauds, while 12 percent are connected to child exploitation, sextortion, and other digital abuses.

Speaking at a press conference, Kichloo said that fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to target people. Most commonly, victims are lured through phone calls where scammers impersonate officials from law enforcement, the judiciary, or banking institutions. “They use uniforms and official-sounding language to intimidate victims into revealing sensitive details,” he said.

A concerning trend, he noted, is the rise in so-called “digital arrest” scams, where individuals receive calls claiming they or their relatives are under investigation. Recently, several teachers in Kashmir were targeted in such scams via WhatsApp calls, but intervention by cyber police prevented any losses.

Kichloo highlighted the growing threat of social engineering attacks, where scammers manipulate people into giving up passwords, OTPs, or personal information. “Even with all digital protections in place, it’s often the human brain that gets tricked,” he said, warning against sharing OTPs with anyone, regardless of the reason.

The SSP also spoke about the misuse of social media. He described cases where fraudsters clone Facebook profiles using profile pictures and then reach out to the victim’s contacts, pretending to need money.

He urged people to avoid accepting random friend requests and be cautious about the images they share online.

Another major concern is the use of malware hidden in photos or PDF files, a technique known as steganography. Kichloo explained that opening such files, even if they seem harmless or come from a known source, could compromise the user’s device and grant access to banking apps, galleries, and other personal data.

Kichloo also spoke about two dangerous international scams that have begun affecting Kashmir—pig butchering and cyber slavery. In these scams, youth are lured by fake job offers abroad and then taken to countries like Cambodia or Myanmar, where they are locked up and forced to run cyber fraud networks.

He advised parents and young people to thoroughly verify job placement agencies before trusting them. “Otherwise, your child could fall victim to these modern slavery networks,” he warned.

He further cautioned against charging phones at public charging stations such as in restaurants or airports, as hackers can exploit such points to access data. He also advised people to be careful when handing over their phones for scanning or photocopying.

Kichloo emphasized the importance of not sharing mobile numbers and email addresses unnecessarily, as such details are often harvested by cybercriminals for targeted attacks.

He spoke at length about the rise in sextortion cases, where victims receive random video calls via WhatsApp or Messenger. If answered, they are recorded and later blackmailed with threats of making the footage public. He urged victims not to panic in such situations and to immediately contact cyber police or dial 1930.

The SSP said that if cybercrimes are reported quickly, especially within the first hour—referred to as the “golden hour”—authorities can freeze transactions and prevent loss of funds. He stated that last year, the department successfully recovered and returned nearly Rs 7 crore to victims who reported fraud promptly.

He advised people to adopt basic digital hygiene, such as enabling two-factor authentication on messaging apps, and to avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments. He said many people remain unaware of simple protections and fall victim because of that ignorance.

Concluding his address, Kichloo said that cybercrime has become a major challenge, but the Jammu Kashmir government has taken steps to address it by establishing cyber police stations in every district, supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs. “Public awareness is key,” he said, encouraging citizens to reach out for help and reminding them that cyber police are available 24/7 to assist anyone facing online threats.