Cyber crime rising, but Allahabad fares well

ALLAHABAD: The men-in-khaki here can a heave a sigh of relief as only five cases under IT Act were registered with the police in Sangam city in year 2011, as per an NCRB report.

Ironically, the state capital has earned an inglorious first position in the KAVAL towns of UP, with 20 cases of cyber crime being registered in 2011. In fact, there has been a 215.6 per cent variation in year 2011 with UP registering a total of 101 cases of cyber crime as compared to 32 cases registered in year 2010.

The records of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) states that Sangam city has registered only five cases under IT Act while other KAVAL towns, including Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi registered five, eight and four cases respectively.

As far as Sangam city is concerned, two cases of tampering computer sources/documents and one each case of loss/damage to computer resources/utility, hacking and obscene activity was registered with the police in year 2011.

Records claim that Banglore has topped the chart with highest 117 cases, Vishakhapatnam (107) and Pune (83) ranked second and third respectively, revealed the NCRB report.

A total of 101 offences were registered in UP under the Information Technology (IT) Act, an almost three-fold rise since 2010. Similarly, 13 cases were also registered under different section of IPC during the same period.

Offenders in cyber crime are registered under two heads -- IT Act-2000, and under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Cyber crimes involving criminal activities that are traditional in nature, such as theft, fraud, forgery, defamation and mischief are registered under the IPC and those that are not document related, including obscene publication, releasing false electronic signatures, unauthorised access and hacking among others are registered under the IT Act, 2000.

Importantly, a total of 123 arrests were made in UP, of which 52 were in the age group of 18 to 30 years, 56 between age 30 and 45 years and 15 people aged between 45 and 60 years on different charges. A total of 32 cases were registered in year 2010 under the IT Act, including those related to hacking, loss or damage to computer resource and for publishing obscene material.

A senior cop preferring anonymity said, "Though cases of cyber crimes did take place earlier also, they are coming to fore more because of increasing awareness created by the police and the presence of cyber crime cell."

He added that the state police have set up a Cyber Complaints Redressal Cell at Agra to lodge grievances of victims.

Experts point out that easy access to broadband/internet connection and increased use of electronic payment systems have led to increase in crime rate. "The number of cases related to documents will go down while crimes like phishing, credit card frauds or unauthorized access will increase since they are more lucrative. Superintendent of police (City) Shailesh Kumar Yadav said: "People are quite aware about frauds on Internet but cops on their part have also been making attempts to spread awareness on the issue so that they could not be cheated."

To create awareness in this connection, the police too are periodically issuing guidelines on cyber safety, including telling the denizens not to give identifying information such as name, home address or telephone number in a chat room. Even vital details like age, gender should never be divulged to anyone, not to send photograph to anyone on the Net unless the person is well enough.

And, more importantly, denizens are being told not to respond to messages or bulletin board items that are obscene, belligerent or threatening. More or less, never go ahead for a face-to-face meeting with anyone who you have just 'met' on the Internet. In case you have to meet this particular person, make sure you have someone with you for the engagement.

Superintendent of police, city, shailesh kumar yadav says " people are quite aware about frauds on internet but cops on their part have also been making attempts to spread awareness on the issue so that they could not be cheated".