Mumbai's new cyber police station to shift in Bandra West

The new office is located at Lucky Junction on S.V. Road. Pic/Ashish Raje

AMIDST the growing need for enhanced infrastructure following a steady rise in cyber fraud cases, the Mumbai cyber crime team, previously based in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), is set to move to a new fully equipped and dedicated cyber police station in Bandra West.

The new West Region Cyber Police Station, which will soon be inaugurated, is situated on the 5th floor of the Mumbai Police Cyber Centre building, located at Lucky Junction on S.V. Road in Bandra West. The new facility will primarily handle high-value cyber fraud cases involving amounts exceeding R10 lakh.

A cyber laboratory equipped with advanced computers, servers, cybersecurity tools, and updated software and hardware to assist with data recovery, number tracing, and research on emerging cyber fraud trends and technologies will also be operational at the new centre, aiding in the investigation of complex financial fraud cases.

Senior officials, including the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the Cyber Crime Department, will be relocating to the 6th floor of the same building. Additionally, a Crime Branch Unit is also expected to shift to the facility, police sources informed mid-day.

Currently, Mumbai has five dedicated cyber police stations covering different zones - South, Central, East, North, and West. A senior police officer said, "Eight officers, including a senior inspector, and 35 staff members will be deployed at the West Region Cyber Police Station. This station will exclusively handle financial cyber fraud cases involving amounts over Rs 10 lakh. Cases involving fraud below Rs 10 lakh will continue to be handled by local police stations."

"There has been a rise in cases such as fake share trading apps, digital arrests, and WhatsApp impersonation. These make up the majority of our recent registrations," he added.

Cyber lab expansion

Until now, cyber laboratory facilities were only available at the South, Central, and East region stations. With the addition of the Bandra West lab, the West region will now benefit from advanced digital forensic tools to tackle the city's growing cybercrime challenges more effectively.

Keep yourself safe from cyber fraud

Do

>> Be cautious and verify the authenticity of any contact from unknown sources, especially those posing as law enforcement or government officials.
>> If you suspect a scam, immediately block the communication channel and contact your bank to freeze any potential transactions.
>> Report the incident to the nearest police station or the cyber police station.
>> File a complaint through the official cybercrime portal of the Government of India (www.cybercrime.gov.in.)
>> Use the national cyber crime helpline number 1930 to report financial frauds.
>> Stay informed about common cyber fraud tactics and educate yourself on how to recognize and avoid them.57

Don't

>> Do not share sensitive information such as debit/credit card numbers, CVV, OTPs, or other personal details without verifying the authenticity of the request.
>> Avoid responding to unsolicited job offers or advertisements that require upfront payments or personal information.
>> Do not engage with or pay ransom to individuals threatening you with arrest or legal action without verifying the legitimacy of their claims.
>> Refrain from clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, as they may contain malware.