Trapped by Taps and Clicks: Jabalpur’s Alarming Rise in Cyber Frauds

Recent Cases and Statistics

Local police report a sharp rise in cyber fraud in Jabalpur over recent months. Nearly 497 complaints have been registered “in the last few months,” involving about ₹12 crore in losses. Police say only about ₹84 lakh has been recovered so far . Victims span all walks of life – for example, in late May 2025 a 28-year-old resident lost ~₹2 lakh after downloading a seemingly innocuous WhatsApp image that secretly installed malware on his phone . In another case a retired defence-unit employee was duped of ₹12 lakh by fraudsters posing as Delhi crime-branch officers and threatening him with “digital arrest” . Earlier (Aug 2024) Jabalpur’s Omti police handled complaints against a man named Rishiraj who lured multiple investors with promises of 15% stock-market returns, then vanished with lakhs of rupees. Police note that even educated citizens and students have fallen prey to schemes from bogus investment platforms to phony college admissions. (Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Common Scam Patterns
Police and press reports identify many scam variants circulating in the region. Key fraud methods include:
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Malicious WhatsApp images: Cybercriminals hide malware in image files sent via WhatsApp. When victims open the photo, the code silently infects the phone and steals banking credentials or OTPs. In Jabalpur, this “WhatsApp image scam” has already cost one man nearly ₹2 lakh
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Fake “digital arrest” calls: Scammers impersonate police or government officials (often via voice or video call), accuse victims of crimes like money laundering, and extort cash to “clear” their name. One such Jabalpur victim was coerced into transferring ₹12 lakh over several days while under virtual “lockdown” by the fraudsters’ threats . (Real law enforcement never demands money or OTPs over phone .)
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Investment and lottery schemes: Fraudsters promise unrealistic returns (e.g. “15% gains in stock trading,” cryptocurrency windfalls, or guaranteed lottery wins). They collect advance payments or OTPs on that pretext, then vanish. In the share-profit case noted above, victims handed over crores believing they would earn 15% profit .

Actions by Authorities

Law enforcement has cracked down on several Jabalpur-area fraud rings. In January 2025 the Madhya Pradesh Cyber Police (based in Jabalpur) announced the arrest of 18 suspects in a ₹15 crore cyber-fraud network . Six were arrested in Hyderabad/Haryana and 12 from Jabalpur, Satna and Bhopal . Officers report that the gang targeted victims nationwide via bogus apps and investment schemes, funneled money to the Gulf, and enlisted some bank employees to open fake accounts . The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has joined the probe into alleged foreign links . Altogether police seized 14 laptops, 40 mobiles, 79 ATM cards, 6 bank passbooks and multiple QR codes from the syndicate . Earlier raids (Oct–Dec 2024) had recovered ₹15 lakh in cash and dozens of cards/devices .

Locally, Jabalpur’s Ranjhi police registered an FIR after the retired official’s complaint in the digital-arrest case. Omti police and cyber officers are investigating the fake-investment complaints from August 2024 . Police spokespersons say investigators track transactions and work with banks and mobile carriers to freeze accounts. So far about ₹84 lakh of the stolen funds have been retrieved by these efforts. (freepressjournal.in)

Safety Advisories and Public Guidance

Police and cybercrime experts urge caution. Additional SP Sonali Dubey of Jabalpur cyber unit emphasizes early reporting: “The sooner we know, the better chances we have to stop the fraud and recover money” . Citizens are told not to trust unsolicited calls or messages, and to report any suspicious incident immediately via the national cyber helpline (dial 1930) or visit the nearest cyber police station . Key precautions advised by experts include:

Never open attachments or links from unknown senders. Do not download images, videos or files sent over WhatsApp or email if you didn’t request them . Turn off auto-download in messaging apps to avoid accidentally installing malware .
Enable security features. Always use two-step (two-factor) authentication on banking, email and social accounts . Keep your phone’s operating system and apps updated with the latest security patches . Install reputable antivirus/anti-malware software and run regular scans.

Protect personal banking data. Never share OTPs, PINs, passwords or full banking details with anyone over phone or chat . Legitimate banks and government agencies will not ask for these by call or message. If in doubt, hang up and call the official phone number (not one given by the caller) to verify.

Be skeptical of “too good to be true” offers. Ignore cold calls or messages promising quick profits (stock, crypto, lottery, etc.) or refunds/benefits if you give your bank details. Research any investment scheme through official channels before participating .

Verify links and QR codes. Don’t click on payment QR codes or links sent by strangers. When making digital payments, scan QR codes displayed at the merchant’s location (not a code sent online). Report any odd transactions to your bank immediately. (In one Jabalpur case, clicking a counterfeit PhonePe QR link on OLX led to an automatic debit of ₹20,000 .)

Educate family and friends. Warn elderly relatives about common scams (e.g. fake police calls, WhatsApp images, “loan first then release” schemes).

Encourage them to confirm any urgent request with another family member or official agency before
acting.

Key reminders: Do not panic under pressure from fraudsters. Real law-enforcement will never lock you down via video call or demand online payment to “clear” you. If contacted by someone claiming to be police/IRS/bank, end the call and independently verify their identity. Always keep records (screenshots of chats/calls) and file a police complaint immediately if targeted.
Sources: Reports from The Free Press Journal, Times of India, India Today, Navbharat Times and others provide detailed accounts of recent Jabalpur cases and official advisories.