Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 03 September 2024
In a major breakthrough, the Cyber Crime Police Station in Port Blair has successfully apprehended a cybercriminal responsible for a complex cyber crime that targeted a local resident. The accused had created a fake Facebook profile, using the victim’s personal information and photographs without permission, causing significant damage to her reputation and identity.
The case came to light when a resident of Haddo, Port Blair, reported a disturbing instance of identity theft and online harassment to the Cyber Crime Police Station. The victim discovered that an imposter had set up a fraudulent Facebook profile, using her personal details and images. The fake account was used to post inappropriate content, which not only harmed her reputation within the community but also deeply affected her family life.
Responding swiftly, the Cyber Crime Police Station assembled a team to launch a comprehensive investigation. The team included Inspector Sahil Shamsuddin, SHO of the Cyber Crime Police Station; Inspector Mohd. Sameer; Sub-Inspector Devraj; Constable Sangeeta Mazumdar; and Kayan Mohammed. They focused on gathering digital evidence linked to the creation and activity of the fraudulent account. With cooperation from Meta Platforms, the investigators were able to trace crucial details, including IP addresses associated with the fake account.
Continuous surveillance efforts led to the identification and location of the offender. A strategic operation was carried out, resulting in the successful arrest of the suspect on September 3, 2024. During interrogation, the suspect admitted to uploading the explicit photographs with the intent to humiliate the victim.
The entire investigation was conducted under the direct supervision of Mr. Lakshay Pandey, DANIPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime), with overall guidance from Mr. Manjeet Sheoran, IPS, Superintendent of Police, CID.
The Cyber Crime Police Station has urged the public to remain vigilant against online scams and identity theft. For any assistance or to report suspicious activities, residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can contact the Cyber Crime Police Station via the national helpline number 1930, the A&N Police Helpline at 9531856083, or visit www.cybercrime.gov.in.