The Punjab Police are celebrating Valentine’s Week in a unique way, posting creative messages aimed at spreading awareness about crime, especially cybercrime.“On Rose Day, spread kindness, not fake news,” read a poster in pink.Another one read, “On Chocolate Day, some offers look tempting. Pause. Verify. Stay safe online. #SweetButScam.”It added: “Share chocolates, not OTP or personal data.”These posters asked people to beware of cyber criminals who lure the gullible by acting as beautiful, sweet-talking women.On Teddy Day, the Punjab Police issued a cyber safety reminder. “Not every cute-looking profile is genuine. Cyber fraudsters often hide behind attractive identities to trap unsuspecting users.”It warned: “Verify before you trust. Stay alert. Stay safe online.”Another poster read: “This Propose Day, commit to responsible sharing. Verify content. Check sources. Avoid misinformation.”The police said apart from phishing by cyber fraudsters, gangsters and terrorist groups also use social media to influence youngsters and recruit them.There was a surge of 82 per cent in cyber crime complaints to the police in 2024, leading to the setting up of 28 cyber crime police stations in the state.Gansgters, too, have been trying to recruit youngsters by circulating glorified accounts of their deeds. There have also been instances of agencies from across the border using honey-trap tactics, including software that makes men sound like women or security personnel, to extract sensitive information related to national security.
