More than 60 percent of cyber crime cases registered in Goa over the past five years have gone undetected, raising serious concerns about online safety in the state. During this period, the Goa Police recorded 441 cyber crime cases, but only 170 were successfully detected.
Cyber fraudsters have cheated Goans of nearly Rs 100 crore so far, according to official records. Police sources said this figure reflects only reported losses, and the real amount could be much higher. Investigations show that many of these criminals operate from outside India, which makes tracking and arresting them difficult.
The police have urged senior citizens to be extra cautious while dealing with unknown people online. Officials said that most cyber fraud victims in Goa are retired persons. They explained that senior citizens are often targeted for four main reasons. “The first is that senior citizens are not tech savvy, second, it is easy to manipulate them, third, they have substantial savings in banks, and last, senior citizens never consult anyone while investing online,” police said.
Many elderly residents in Goa have lost crores of rupees to such scams. The police have again reminded people to be careful while making online investments and to always verify where their money is going.
To tackle the growing threat, the state government has prepared a cyber crime awareness action plan. This includes introducing a cyber safety and security curriculum in schools from Class VI onwards. A senior official said the draft content will be prepared by the police and shared with the directorate of education.
The government has also created a broader awareness plan involving 13 departments. These include the police, panchayats, public works, education, and higher education, among others. The aim is to improve public awareness and reduce the risk of online fraud across the state.
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