Maharashtra Cyber manages to save Rs 222 cr of people duped in online frauds since 2021

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The Maharashtra Cyber probing fraud cases involving a cumulative amount of Rs 2379.51 crore between 2021 and May 2024 has managed to put on hold Rs 222.99 crore thanks to the 1930 helpline, an official said on Monday, reported news agency PTI.

The helpline, with 23 functional lines and 110 persons working round the clock, attends between 2500-3000 calls per day, he said, adding that 10 officials focus specifically on follow-up procedures as well as communicating with banks and law enforcement agencies to expedite complaint resolution, reported PTI.

As part of the MH Dial 1930 Project, modern state-of-the-art software and hardware are being implemented to effectively resolve citizens' complaints, the Maharashtra Cyber official said.

"Cloud telephonic servers are being used to increase the bandwidth for attending calls, allowing more citizens to be served. The impact of those efforts is reflected in the substantial increase in registered fraud amounts and an increase in the hold amount," he said, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, the Customs department seized 4,600 used laptops and more than 1,000 computer parts of various brands worth Rs 4.11 crore in Nhava Sheva, an official said on Monday, reported PTI.

Based on a tip-off, officials of the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB) (Import) at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH) recently seized the electronic goods from a consignment from UAE, the official said, reported PTI.

The seized laptops and 1,546 CPUs, worth Rs 4.11 crore, were imported from UAE while the supplier was based in Hong Kong, he said.

Importing such goods without proper authorisation is restricted as per the policy of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), reported PTI.

The official said used laptops were smuggled by declaring motherboard casing, etc, through Inland Container Depot (ICD) Patparganj, Delhi.

SIIB officials also conducted simultaneous searches in Mumbai and Delhi and arrested the mastermind cum proprietor of the importing firm, he said.

Officials recovered Rs 27.37 lakh cash from the importer's premises as sale proceeds of smuggled goods, he said.

A swift investigation uncovered two identical shipments at Delhi Air Cargo Customs, which contained used laptops, the official said, adding that further probe is underway, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)