Tricity records rampant online fraud during lockdown

The curfew imposed between March 23 and May 5 did not deter miscreants from committing online frauds. During the period, as many as 594 people from Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula approached the Chandigarh cyber cell complaining about fraudulent withdrawal of money from their accounts, online bullying and cheating on the pretext of delivering booze, books and electronic gadgets after accepting advance payments.

The 44-day long curfew imposed in the view of COVID-19 was lifted on May 5, while the lockdown provisions continued.

Police said, the cases include crimes related online transactions, advance payments, sexual harassment, hacking of emails and stealing of profile pictures.