Tamil Nadu Police Intensify Battle Against Cybercriminals with Operation Thiraineeku

Chennai, Dec 8 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu cybercrime police have initiated a comprehensive operation throughout the state to apprehend cybercriminals implicated in deceiving individuals.

The initiative, named ‘Operation Thiraineeku’, has thus far resulted in the arrest of 70 individuals associated with 135 complaints filed statewide.

Specialized teams, operating under the guidance of District Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police, executed the operation, which was orchestrated by the State Cyber Crime Wing (CCW).

The entire operation was supervised by ADGP (Cyber Crime) Sandeep Mittal.

In an official statement, the Tamil Nadu police characterized the arrests as a notable triumph in dismantling organized cybercrime syndicates within the state.

“This operation is among the most extensive of its kind in India, effectively targeting the core of the cybercrime infrastructure,” the statement elaborated.

The large-scale initiative utilized accused profiling through the National Cyber Crime Reporting (NCRP) Portal, databases from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), and financial analysis of cybercriminal networks.

Bank fund trails linked to 158 NCRP complaints were also a crucial aspect of the inquiry.

The police are currently examining digital evidence and questioning the detained suspects to reveal further layers of criminal activity across the nation.

Efforts are ongoing to capture additional network participants, recover stolen funds, and identify wider connections to cybercrime operations throughout the country.

It is noteworthy that the Greater Chennai City Police reported a total of 1,679 cybercrime cases from January to August 2024, with 1,589 involving financial frauds leading to an estimated loss of around Rs 189 crore.

In Coimbatore, City Police Commissioner V. Balakrishnan underscored a significant rise in cybercrime incidents. Fraudsters have reportedly siphoned off Rs 93 crore this year alone, marking a stark increase from Rs 3 crore in 2021, Rs 13 crore in 2022, and Rs 48 crore in 2023.

By November 2024, complaints totaling Rs 98 crore in losses were recorded, with authorities successfully freezing nearly 50 percent of the amount (Rs 49.25 crore).

Statewide, the cybercrime unit received 6,798 complaints this year, which led to 255 FIRs. Victims reported cumulative losses of Rs 93.04 crore, and police have apprehended 41 suspects, with seven detained under the Goondas Act.

The police have issued advisories concerning various scams, including online share trading frauds, Digital Arrest scams impersonating FedEx or the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, part-time job scams, matrimonial frauds, and scams involving electricity bills or gifts.

Victims are encouraged to report incidents on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) within 24 hours by contacting the cybercrime helpline 1930 or visiting www.cybercrime.gov.in.

Timely reporting triggers the freezing of suspicious bank accounts, which is essential for recovering funds.

Following a directive from the Madras High Court in July 2024, judicial officers have been instructed that the recovery process for cybercrime losses can commence based on an NCRP complaint and a report from the cybercrime police, even in the absence of an FIR.

The police have also advised the public to remain vigilant against high-return investment advertisements, unfamiliar applications, or unverified websites, urging individuals not to transfer money to unknown bank accounts.

In a prominent case, the Cyber Crime Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB), Chennai, arrested two suspects for their role in an online share trading scam.

A woman from Chennai, the spouse of a businessman from Kotturpuram, was deceived out of Rs 10.27 crore.

The 45-year-old complainant was lured by a social media advertisement promoting investment trading advice.

She joined a WhatsApp group and downloaded an online share trading application via a link provided by the fraudsters. Between April and July, she transferred Rs 10.27 crore to various bank accounts designated by the scammers.

Despite her online account reflecting inflated profits, the funds never appeared in her actual bank account.

Police investigations are ongoing to recover the defrauded amount and trace additional individuals involved in the scheme.