How is the Odisha government seeking bankers’ support to combat rising cyber crimes?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Collaboration: Importance of cooperation between banks and law enforcement.
- Types of Fraud: Awareness of common cyber frauds such as investment scams.
- Regulation: Need to regulate the opening of mule accounts.
- Public Awareness: Campaigns to educate the public on fraud prevention.
- Proactive Measures: RBI's role in combating cyber fraud through regulatory frameworks.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 8 (NationPress) On Monday, the Odisha government called on banking institutions to extend their full support to state law enforcement agencies in tackling the rising issue of cyber fraud affecting the region.
This appeal was made during the 34th meeting of the State Level Co-ordination Committee (SLCC) held at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Bhubaneswar.
An official statement indicated that bankers were urged during the meeting to collaborate closely with law enforcement to effectively combat the threat posed by cyber fraud.
During the meeting, Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania noted that the most frequently reported cyber frauds in Odisha include investment and trading scams, digital arrest schemes, fake job offers, fraudulent websites, and social media scams, highlighting a significant concern for public safety.
He also called for immediate corrective measures from banks to regulate the establishment of mule accounts, which are pivotal to cyber fraud operations.
Puspamitra Sahu, Chief General Manager at RBI’s Central Office in Mumbai, emphasized RBI’s proactive approach in tackling cyber frauds and mule accounts. This includes reinforcing regulatory frameworks and collaborating with various stakeholders, such as law enforcement and customer awareness initiatives on safe banking practices.
During the session, the state government and banking representatives also discussed various other critical issues, including aspects of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes (BUDS) Act, 2019, complaints against unincorporated entities, cooperative societies, market intelligence inputs, and more. Development Commissioner Anu Garg, who chaired the meeting, underlined the importance of extensive awareness campaigns via multiple channels, including online platforms, to educate the public and prevent them from being victimized by Ponzi schemes orchestrated by unscrupulous entities.
Several senior officials from the Odisha Police and various state government departments, including Finance, Revenue, Disaster Management, Cooperation, Law, and SEBI, were present at the meeting.