A large number of people from rural areas have appealed to the authorities to have Cyber Crime expert in every police station, including those in rural places.

According to social activist M. Muthiah, thanks to technology internet has reached even the remote part of the State. “The number of people who use internet is increasing day by day. Unfortunately most of them are not aware of cyber crimes. Miscreants target them and they lose their hard earned money. At that time, they are not able to lodge a complaint with the local police station. The police personnel ask them to approach the Cyber Crime cell in the district headquarters. Many people, due to the distance and constraints in travelling, do not lodge a complaint at all. To prevent all this a cyber crime personnel should be posted in every station,” he told Covai Post.

Endorsing Muthiah, a villager, who did not want to be named said he lost Rs. 40,000 following a call from a prankster who identified himself as a bank official. “He asked me to give details of my debit card so that he could update it in the bank software. I didn’t realise that he was a fraudster. Withing minutes I lost Rs. 40,000.

I lodged a complaint in my area police station, who have forwarded it to the Cyber Cell. I am working in a private factory and it is impossible to me to go to the headquarters to follow up my complaint regularly. I lose my day’s salary as travelling takes so much time,” he added.

“My Facebook was recently hacked. I tried to file a complaint. But the cops advised me to approach the Cyber Cell,” said another person.

When contacted, a senior police official said the department wanted to handle such cases using latest technology. “The Cyber Cell lab has got latest technology. It is not possible to have such technology in each and every police station,” he said.

Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore District, Pa. Moorthy said people can approach the local station at any point of time. “The cops will forward the complaint to the Cyber cell. Or else they can approach the cyber crime personnel directly,” Moorthy added.