Hyderabad: Telangana residents lost over ₹578.59 crore in cyber frauds from July 2021 to date, the police department said on Tuesday, outlining the aims and measures taken by the TS Cyber Security Bureau (TSCSB), a first-of-its-kind dedicated wing in the country, to combat cybercrime.
The state has been registering the highest number of cybercrimes in the country, aided by a sharp rise in online platforms, the police said.
“TSCSB will not only combat rising cybercrime, but also cater to cyber security and deal with threats in cyberspace. Several other states are studying this model to emulate the same in their respective states,” said Cyberabad police commissioner M. Stephen Raveendra, who heads the TSCSB.
“The formation of the TSCSB is not merely a defensive strategy; it is an act of defiance, a proclamation that we will counter cybercrime and criminals at scale, speed and with skill,” he said.
Raveendra said that the growing sophistication of cybercriminals is rendering traditional cybersecurity measures obsolete, necessitating newer strategies, robust defences and innovative countermeasures. The cost of cybercrime is predicted to reach an astounding USD 10.5 trillion by 2025.
“TSCSB is a dedicated response to this monumental challenge aligned with Telangana State Cyber Security Policy, ensuring a sense of safety and security which also paves way for investments and more jobs for the state,” he added.
TSCSB has been designated the joint cybercrime coordination centre (JCCT-Hyderabad Region) for six states, namely Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Goa and Telangana.
Further, to prevent cyber attacks or minimise damages from an attack, the TSCSB will work in coordination with the industries like banking, IT, pharma, hospitality, etc. “By working closely with them, TSCSB aims to bridge the gap and also share information of attacks on a real time basis with all stakeholders and make them aware of the threats,” said SP Vishwajit Kampati of the TSCSB.
SP K.C.S. Raghu Vir said the cybercrime wing in the TSCSB will register cases and also monitor the investigation of cases in other units. “People can use the dedicated call centre working 24X7 to raise grievances related to cybercrime,” he said.
