Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has set a new record by helping victims of cyber fraud get back Rs 85.05 crore from March to July 2024. This happened across the tri-police Commissionerate and districts of Telangana. In the Cyberabad Commissionerate alone, Rs 36.8 crore was refunded, making it the top unit for processing refunds.
To make it easier for victims to file petitions under Section 457 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the TGCSB developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with the help of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TGLSA). This SOP was created in February 2024 and distributed to all District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) in Telangana.
Since these measures were put in place and directives were issued to all district judges on February 20, 2024, a total of 6,840 petitions have been submitted to the courts. Refund orders have been given for 6,449 cases, totaling Rs 85.05 crore, according to TGCSB.
This initiative marks a significant step in providing quick financial relief to victims of cyber fraud. It sets a new standard for cyber security and legal response in Telangana.
“The collaboration between TGCSB and TGLSA, along with the active participation of the Telangana High Court, shows a strong legal framework designed to address the financial impacts of cybercrimes on citizens. These efforts highlight TGCSB’s commitment to protecting citizens from cyber threats and ensuring justice and financial compensation for victims,” said TGCSB.
This achievement is the result of joint efforts between the TGCSB and the TGLSA. They focused on the rising cyber crimes causing significant financial losses to citizens and the challenges faced by Station House Officers (SHOs) in filing First Information Reports (FIRs) through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
The cyber security bureau emphasizes the importance of immediate action when reporting cyber fraud. Reporting within the ‘golden hour’—the very moment it is realized or suspected—greatly increases the chances of freezing the fraud amount in the accused’s bank accounts and digital wallets. This quick action helps in facilitating potential refunds to the victims.
Victims are encouraged to report incidents promptly by calling 1930 or visiting the Cybercrime.gov.in portal.
