Leh, August 25: With cyber fraud emerging as a growing financial threat in Ladakh, Leh Police has urged residents to immediately dial the national cybercrime helpline 1930 after suffering any financial cyber fraud, stressing that reporting within the first 60 minutes—the “golden hour”—can significantly improve the chances of tracing and blocking the stolen funds.
The advisory was issued during Bajaj Finance Ltd. ‘s Arthsutra Samvad, a financial literacy and awareness programme conducted at Chuchot Yokma Panchayat Ghar, Government Higher Secondary School Chuchot and Panchayat Ghar Phayang.
The initiative brought together cyber police officials, students, women representatives, village leaders and youth representatives to promote responsible financial management, informed borrowing, digital awareness and safe use of online financial services.
SHO Shamim Ahmed, Cyber In-charge, Leh, said the increasing number of cyber fraud cases in Ladakh made immediate reporting crucial.
“Cyber fraud has become a serious concern in Ladakh. The first 60 minutes are the golden hour. If a victim reports the fraud in 1930 within this period, it significantly increases the chances of tracing and blocking the money,” he said.
He urged victims not to hesitate or feel embarrassed after losing money through a digital transaction.
“The moment a person realises that money has been lost through a digital transaction, they should dial 1930. Do not delay reporting or try to resolve the matter yourself. The faster the information reaches the authorities, the greater the possibility of stopping the movement of the money,” Ahmed said.
According to official figures released by the Ladakh Administration, 1,077 cybercrime complaints involving approximately ₹10 crore were reported during 2021–2026. The number of complaints increased sharply from 43 in 2022 to 366 in 2025, highlighting the growing challenge posed by online financial fraud.
The Ladakh Administration has also said that Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the establishment of a dedicated Cyber Police Station in Ladakh, in view of increasing cybercrime incidents, including financial fraud, online scams, digital arrests and identity theft. The proposed cyber police station will have jurisdiction across the Union Territory.
Bajaj Finance’s Arthsutra Samvad focuses on promoting practical financial knowledge and informed decision-making through community-based programmes, particularly in rural and underbanked areas.
The sessions in Leh covered savings, budgeting, responsible borrowing, timely loan repayment, financial planning and safe digital financial practices, besides creating awareness about cyber fraud.
Cyber Police official Abdul Ghani said fraudsters were continuously changing their methods and targeting people through multiple channels.
“Cybercriminals are constantly changing their methods and are increasingly using fake KYC calls, fraudulent investment offers, QR-code scams, fake customer-care numbers, loan applications and malicious links to deceive people,” he said.
He advised residents never to share OTPs, PINs, passwords or banking details with unknown persons.
At Government Higher Secondary School, Chuchot, students were sensitised about responsible smartphone use, online financial risks and common methods used by cybercriminals.
Principal Yahya Khan said students, as active users of digital platforms, could help parents and elders identify suspicious calls, messages, links and investment offers.
“Digital literacy today must include financial awareness and the ability to identify digital deception,” he said.
He added that responsible financial behaviour and responsible use of technology must go hand in hand, particularly as digital payments and online services become increasingly common.
