Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Oct 25: Goa police have directed banks to temporarily pause large fund transfers initiated by senior citizens to unknown accounts and verify the purpose of the transactions with them to prevent cyber fraud.
The directive was issued during a coordination meeting organised by the Goa cybercrime police with representatives of various banking institutions to strengthen cooperation, speed up cybercrime investigations and improve preventive measures. The meeting was chaired by Inspector General of Police Keshav Ram Chaurasia.
During the meeting, police instructed banks to question senior citizens who seek to transfer substantial amounts to unfamiliar accounts and temporarily hold such transactions until their authenticity is verified. The measure aims to protect elderly people, including retired persons, who are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals.
Police also expressed concern over delays in responses from banks during cybercrime investigations, stating that such delays hamper investigations and make it difficult to arrest those responsible.
Financial institutions were directed not to share customer data with cybercriminals or unauthorised agencies. Bank representatives reportedly denied sharing information with third parties.
Police further instructed banks to monitor sudden, unusually large deposits into individual accounts and immediately report suspicious transactions to the authorities.
Authorities also cautioned people against falling victim to fraudulent online investment schemes. Police advised investors to verify that their money was being transferred directly to the legitimate company's bank account.
“If anyone downloads an app of any company for investment, then the person should ensure that the money is going to the company's account. If the money is being sent to multiple accounts, the person should know that it's a fraud and should not transfer any more money,” police said.
According to police sources, cybercriminals have cheated people in Goa of around Rs 100 crore so far this year. Officials cautioned that this represents only the officially reported figure, and the actual amount could be significantly higher. Last year, cyber fraudsters allegedly cheated Goans of Rs 101 crore.
Police investigations have also indicated that many cyber fraud operations are run from abroad, making it difficult for investigators to identify and arrest the perpetrators.