Bhubaneswar, December 9: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has informed that over 59,000 people have fallen prey to online trading frauds in the state over the past six years.
In a written statement in the Assembly on Monday, Majhi disclosed that 769 such cases were reported between 2019 and November 2024, affecting 59,437 individuals.
Most incidents occurred in the years 2023 and 2024, with 190 cases involving 18,994 victims reported in 2023, and a staggering 472 cases affecting 40,270 people in 2024, he informed the house in response to a query from Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Police registered seven major cases against cybercriminals during this period.
Cybercrime Control Measures
Chief Minister Majhi detailed several initiatives to tackle the growing menace of cybercrimes, including the establishment of a dedicated cybercrime unit in Bhubaneswar on September 5, 2023. This unit specializes in handling diverse cyber offenses such as identity theft, phishing, hacking, and online banking fraud.
A cyber police station, initially set up in 2004 under the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) and later moved to the Crime Branch in 2006, handles high-value fraud cases exceeding ₹25 lakh. Additionally, 11 new cybercrime police stations were established in 2021, and existing cyber police stations in Berhampur, Rourkela, and Sambalpur were upgraded.
Enhanced Support Mechanisms
The state has also operationalized multiple support mechanisms, including:
Cyber Help Desk call center.
Children and Women Online Abuse Monitoring Units.
Cyber Forensic Units.
Cyber Tracing Units.
Social Media Cells.
Majhi emphasized the need for continual upgrades in infrastructure and expertise to counteract the complexity of cybercrime, ensuring better protection for the citizens of Odisha.
