Srinagar- In the wake of a concerning spike in cybercrimes across Jammu and Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police (Cyber) Mohd Yaseen Kichloo has warned the public about increasingly sophisticated digital scams that are defrauding and exploiting people across the Union Territory.
Speaking to reporters, Kichloo, who also heads the Cybercrime Investigation Centre for Excellence (CICE), said 95 percent of the cybercrime cases reported in J&K are related to financial fraud, while 12 percent involve child exploitation and sextortion.
Steganography Scams and Financial Frauds
One of the newer techniques highlighted by the SSP involves malware hidden inside innocent-looking photos and PDFs, often depicting elderly people or missing persons. “This method, called steganography, enables hackers to infect your phone or computer as soon as you download the file. They can then access your photos, apps, or even banking information,” Kichloo said.
He urged people to avoid clicking on unknown files, even from known contacts, and to enable two-factor authentication, especially on apps like WhatsApp.
Rising Cases of Sextortion
On the rise are sextortion scams, wherein individuals—mostly men—are tricked into video calls with fraudsters posing as nude women or men. The video is recorded and later used to blackmail the victims with threats of sharing the footage with their families or on social media.
“This is not the victim’s fault,” Kichloo said. “But many end up paying out of fear. We urge everyone not to panic and report such cases immediately on the 1930 helpline or at the nearest cyber police station.”
Cyber Slavery: A New Threat
Perhaps most alarming, Kichloo noted, is a disturbing trend of “cyber slavery” where Kashmiri youth are being trafficked to countries like Myanmar and Cambodia on the pretext of fake job offers and are then forced to operate international cyber fraud networks.
“We have received genuine complaints. Parents and youth must verify any consultancy or job offer carefully,” he said.
Digital Arrest & Other Tactics
The SSP also flagged an increase in “digital arrest” scams, where cybercriminals impersonate officials from agencies like the CBI or judiciary and threaten legal action to extract personal details. “Recently, even teachers in Kashmir narrowly escaped these scams,” he said.
Kichloo warned against using public USB charging stations, which he said can be infected to steal data. He also advised against casually sharing phone numbers or email addresses at eateries or online forms.
Timely Reporting Saves Lives and Money
Highlighting the importance of immediate response, Kichloo said that Rs 7 crore was recovered and returned to victims last year, but only because of quick reporting within the “golden hour”—the initial few hours after a scam occurs.
Appreciating the efforts of the J&K administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Kichloo said cyber police stations have now been established in every district. He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts through “Mann Ki Baat” in spreading awareness about digital safety.
“You are not alone. Cybercrime can happen to anyone. There’s no shame in reporting. The cyber police is available 24/7. If you face any cyber issue, just call 1930 or visit the nearest cyber police station,” SSP Kichloo said.
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