Money return Mela: Police return Rs 1.91 crore to cybercrime victims in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Apr 9: The police on Wednesday held a special event in Bhubaneswar, returning a total of Rs 1.91 crore to victims of cybercrimes who were defrauded between January and March of this year, according to an official statement.

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The event, called the 'Money Return Mela,' was organized by the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate. The Bhubaneswar Cyber Crime and Economic Offences Police Station took prompt and effective action to address public grievances and recover the stolen money.

The victims had fallen prey to various cybercrimes, including digital arrests, dealership frauds, APK/link frauds, customer care scams, fake website frauds, and others, the statement noted.

In the first quarter of 2025, the police managed to recover amounts of Rs 1,02,78,555, Rs 43,66,492, and Rs 44,75,060, all of which were returned to the victims during the event.

Through the use of criminal miscellaneous cases (CMCs), the police were able to recover significant amounts for the victims and transfer the funds back to their bank accounts.

In addition to recovering funds, proactive steps were also taken to combat the spread of fraudulent content online. The police identified and blocked 65 fake accounts across various social media platforms. Efforts were also made to help victims regain control of their compromised accounts.

A helpdesk with a dedicated WhatsApp number was set up to assist victims, and the police encouraged people to report any incidents of cybercrime in Bhubaneswar.