New cyber cops to probe debit card frauds

Mumbai: Huge debit card frauds involving more than Rs1 lakh will be probed by the newly set up cyber police stations, instead of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), as practiced earlier.

The main motive of establishing the cyber police stations in the city was to shift the pressure from EOW and increase detection by dedicating a separate police station.

Sources said that like earlier, the victims of the debit card fraud need not approach the EOW for matters pertaining to the fraud amount exceeding `1 lakh, as it will now be handled by the cyber police stations set up in the city.

The idea to move the cyber crime cases from the hands of the EOW has been in the pipeline since 2015, but due to lack of resources and manpower in the city police, the idea never saw the light of the day. However, after the state Maharashtra government approved the setting up of four new cyber police stations in the city, in addition to the already existing cyber police station located at Bandra-Kurla Complex, the move will finally be implemented.

“With trained officers at their disposal, cyber crimes like debit card frauds, phishing, identity theft, internet fraud, ATM fraud, wire fraud, piracy and forgery can be very well handled by the cyber police station officials. The training given to a select few, the cases dealing with a large amount can be tackled by the cyber police station, and if it involves less amount, it will be handled by the cyber cell in respective police stations”, said Akbar Pathan, deputy commissioner of police (cyber).