Representative Image | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Ottapalam: Cybercrimes have seen a surge in the state during the pandemic times, especially in 2021. Cybercrimes have doubled during last year when compared to 2019. The cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act also increased in the state.
1329 cyber cases were registered in the state solely during the period of lockdown. Most of the cases were online money fraud cases in which online scammers looted money from bank accounts of the complainants by collecting confidential banking details. Some of the complainants were deceived through phone calls impersonating as KSEB officials thereby obtaining one-time passwords from them.
The crimes include job, games and extortion frauds and cheating through fake Facebook accounts.
Number of cybercrimes reported within 6 years
| Years | Cases |
| 2016 | 283 |
| 2017 | 320 |
| 2018 | 340 |
| 2019 | 307 |
| 2020 | 426 |
| 2021 | 903 |
The maximum number of POCSO cases reported during the past 6 years was in the year 2021. The data released by Kerala Police Crime Statistics recorded 3847 crimes against children in 2021 and 1377 cases among them are under POCSO Act.
The number of cases registered for killing children also saw a rise. 30 cases were reported in 2021. 222 children were kidnapped till November 2021. 10 cases were listed to child marriages.
Crimes against children
| Year | Cases |
| 2016 | 2879 |
| 2017 | 3562 |
| 2018 | 4253 |
| 2019 | 4754 |
| 2020 | 3941 |
| 2021 | 3847 (Till Nov) |
| Year | Cases |
| 2017 | 1069 |
| 2018 | 1137 |
| 2019 | 1262 |
| 2020 | 1243 |
| 2021 | 1377 (Till Nov) |
Dr Deepu C Nair, Psychiatrist at Ottapalam Taluk hospital pointed out that the children were addicted to the internet as even the classes were turned online. This led to an increase in cybercrimes.
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