The alleged suicide bid by a former Punjab Police inspector general after being cheated of Rs 8.1 crore by cyber criminals has put the spotlight on victims of cybercrime who struggle to accept they have been duped—sometimes resorting to extreme steps. In Mumbai alone, three youngsters allegedly died by suicide in the past year after being conned by cyber fraudsters, even though the amounts involved were less than the Punjab case.
Psychiatrist Harish Shetty, whose clients include those who have lost money to cybercrimes, said that one of the most important reasons behind victims taking extreme steps stems from the feeling of having been “fooled” and the shame of being looked down upon.
“There is this sense of helplessness and shame that comes along with losing money to cybercrime. In cases where people lose massive sums, they lose meaning in life. Also, many people in authority roles have this false sense of being omnipotent and wonder how they can fall prey to a crime. They feel they have let down close family members, and people will look down on them as someone who has been fooled, which increases extreme isolation and loneliness,” Shetty explained.
A Mumbai police officer said that initially, when people walked in to report cybercrimes, there was a tendency to blame the victim. “We do try to sensitise our policemen that they should not blame the victim and tell them that such cases are rampant, with many people falling prey to it,” the senior official said.
Shetty said that one of the best ways of coping with such frauds is to be involved in support groups. “When victims become part of support groups, the incident becomes normalised when they see so many people having lost money. It seems to really help victims to come to terms with what has happened. Of course, the most important thing is to seek help and not become isolated, and increasingly, people are reaching out to mental health specialists, which is a good sign,” he added.
In January this year, a 17-year-old boy allegedly died by suicide in Mumbai after realising that he had been duped of Rs 49,000 by cyber fraudsters. The police found that he had been in contact with several people on WhatsApp who promised him money in exchange for providing ratings for various services on Google, which is known as task fraud.
In June, a 29-year-old man who lost money to an online investment fraud allegedly died by suicide. The deceased typed out a note in which he blamed the alleged fraudster with whom he had invested money, and a friend who asked him to make an investment online, in which he lost Rs 14,000.
Story continues below this ad
In July, the son of a Customs official allegedly died by suicide after cyber fraudsters defrauded him of Rs 1.8 lakh. Based on the investigation, the Kurla railway police registered an FIR against the accused in October.
Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems.
Experience & Authority
Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field.
Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus.
Key Beats:
Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force.
Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict.
Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations.
Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order.
He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More
