Hacking, obscene emails, card fraud: Maharashtra has ₹14.59-cr plan to keep you safe from these

Maharashtra earmarked Rs14.59-crore to set up four cyber cells, employ 186 police staff and construct a cyber-training centre

Have you noticed the recent increase in cases of email ID hacking, obscene emails and online lottery fraud? Don’t worry, the Maharashtra government has too.

This year, the Mumbai police registered 356 cases of cybercrime till May 14. (HT File Photo)

To tackle the rise in cases of cybercrime, the state government on Wednesday earmarked Rs14.59-crore to set up four cyber cells, employ 186 police staff and construct a cyber-training centre that will train 100 personnel in Mumbai.

The cells will investigate the creation of fake profiles on social media, fake email IDs, cases of defamatory emails, credit and debit card fraud, fraudsters posing as internet banking officials, SIM card fraud and cases of hacking.

“There has been massive development in the Information Technology sector. The internet is used to share information, carry out financial transactions, shop online and use social media. However, there has been an increase in cases of cybercrime related to online fraudsters and obscene messages,” reads the government resolution.

The cyber-training center will be set up at the Mumbai police commissionerate. The government will also rope in two assistant police commissioners, 24 police inspectors, 40 assistant police inspectors and 120 police constables to tackle cybercrime.

This year, the Mumbai police registered 356 cases of cybercrime till May 14. Last year, the Mumbai police registered 928 cases, while 912 cases were registered in 2015. Currently, the Mumbai police have a cyber police station at Bandra-Kurla complex and a cyber cell at the Economic Offences Wing office.