Staff Reporter Panaji
As Goans lost more than Rs 100 crore to various cyber frauds in 2024, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday emphasised the importance of awareness in protecting the public from cybercrimes.
The Goa police have set a target to reduce such frauds by 40 per cent this year through increased awareness efforts.
The substantial financial losses to cyber frauds highlight the need for greater awareness, said Sawant during a function held at Ribandar to launch initiatives Cyber Yoddha Programme, AI-ML (Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning) Lab, Quick Pass mobile application and revamped cyber helpline centre (1930), which has been shifted to Ribandar from the SPCR.
“These developments represent a significant milestone in Goa’s progress toward a more technology-driven approach to policing. They reinforce our commitment to ensuring a safe, secure, and smart governance model,” Sawant added.
The Chief Minister emphasised that cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing threats in today’s digital era, impacting individuals, businesses, and institutions.
With Goa’s expanding global presence as a tourist and investment hub, maintaining a secure digital and physical environment is a top priority for both residents and visitors.
Earlier, Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar noted that the Goa police received 1,788 cybercrime-related complaints in 2023, which increased to 2,847 in 2024.
However, Kumar clarified that the rise in complaints does not necessarily reflect a spike in cybercrime incidents. He attributed it to growing public awareness, which enables authorities to take action against cybercriminals and ultimately helps in reducing crime.
“In 2024, Goans lost over Rs 100 crore to cyber frauds, averaging Rs 8 to 9 crore per month. Our goal is to raise awareness and reduce cyber frauds by 30 per cent to 40 per cent. We are seeing success, and the number of cyber frauds is decreasing,” the DGP said.
