South Goa police receive daily cyber fraud complaints as scams evolve

MARGAO: Despite heightened cybersecurity awareness, residents of South Goa continue to fall prey to online frauds, with police receiving at least one complaint of financial fraud every day. Recent cases across the district highlight a range of deceptive tactics, from fake e-challan links to impersonation scams, resulting in significant financial losses.

In one of the most significant recent incidents, a Canacona resident lost over Rs 4 lakh after clicking on a fraudulent e-challan link received via mobile message. The victim received an OTP from Gokwik, which he did not share, but an unauthorised UPI transaction was subsequently routed to Mobikwik Systems without his consent. In another Canacona case, a resident was duped of Rs 3.6 lakh by a fraudster impersonating a Goa tourism department official over WhatsApp, convincing him that his licence required renewal.

Fraudsters are also exploiting government welfare schemes and task-based rewards. A Cuncolim resident lost Rs 1.7 lakh after clicking on a malicious APK file sent via WhatsApp that promised access to the PM Awas Yojana scheme. Meanwhile, a Colva resident was cheated of Rs 1.7 lakh in a task-based scam where she was lured via WhatsApp to a Telegram group, initially paid for small tasks, and then induced to invest larger sums to recover her money. Police note that while methods evolve, the common thread remains persuading victims to click links, install files, or transfer money based on messages from unknown numbers.

South Goa Superintendent of Police Tikam Singh Verma has urged citizens to remain vigilant against calls from unknown numbers claiming to be government or police officials, or those offering parcel deliveries. He advised the public to verify such communications directly with the nearest police station or official helplines before taking any action. Prompt reporting of financial losses is critical, as it improves the chances of tracing and freezing the stolen funds, police have appealed.

The persistence of these crimes underscores a gap between widespread awareness campaigns and actual cyber hygiene. In December 2025, the Reserve Bank of India’s Panaji Regional Office conducted extensive financial literacy programmes under the ‘RBI Kehta Hai’ campaign, targeting senior citizens, women, and students. Officials identified ignorance, fear, and greed as primary enablers of fraud, warning against emerging typologies like "digital arrest" and phishing. However, public frustration persists regarding the enforcement response. In early 2025, residents highlighted a lack of empathy and slow progress in investigating cyber crimes at local police stations, calling for better accountability and victim support.

As cybercriminals continuously adapt their strategies, authorities are emphasising the need for continuous vigilance. Police advise residents to never share personal or financial information, such as OTPs or UPI PINs, with unknown callers, and to independently verify any claims made by purported government officials.