Berhampur: Cyber police station here registered its first case on April 3, after 45 days of its inauguration. It was a case of cheating.

"The case dates back to December 2017. A trader of Khodasingi, Loknath Dalei, had registered an online complaint to the then Berhampur police superintendent Ashish Singh. As it was a cyber crime related complaint and there was no cyber police station in Berhampur at that time, the case was referred to the crime branch, Cuttack. Later, when cyber police station was inaugurated in the city, the crime branch transferred the case to us. We will investigate it," said cyber police station inspector-in-charge Subhashri Panda.

Dalei alleged that he received a phone call in December last, in which the caller had identified himself as an officer of one Napptol company. "He told me that I had won a Tata Safari vehicle through a lucky draw. I was told that I would get the vehicle after depositing Rs 32,000 in a particular bank account. I deposited the money in phases. But, I did not get the vehicle even after few months. Again I was advised to deposit more amount to release the vehicle," said Dalei.

After smelling foul play, Dalei thought it would now be better to inform the cops and approached the Berhampur police superintendent.

Director-general of police R. P. Sharma inaugurated cyber police station on the Bada Bazar police station premises on February 18 to tackle the threat posed by cyber criminals.