The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) recently blocked over 1,700 Skype IDs and nearly 59,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to cyber fraud. Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar shared these details during a Lok Sabha session, responding to a query from MPs Adoor Prakash, Jai Prakash, and Kuldeep Indora.
The minister also detailed several government initiatives to counter online scams. One key tool in this effort is the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System. This platform has received nearly 10 lakh complaints from citizens and facilitated the recovery of over ₹3,431 crores from fraudulent transactions.
Additionally, I4C has enabled police to block over 6.69 lakh SIM cards and deactivate 1.32 lakh IMEIs tied to cybercrime, reports MediaNama.
The government also introduced cyber hygiene training for law enforcement personnel, equipping them with the skills to counter cyber threats effectively. The Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), meanwhile, serves as a collateral platform, bringing together financial institutions, banks, IT intermediaries, and other stakeholders to strengthen defences against online fraud.
The government also introduced the ‘Report and Check’ feature, allowing citizens to verify identities against a database of known cyber criminals. Efforts to spread awareness extend across multiple platforms, including social media campaigns on X, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram.
Public service announcements in Delhi Metro stations and radio programs on Prasar Bharati and Akashvani have been instrumental in warning citizens about the dangers of online scams. Social media influencers have also been roped in to amplify these messages.
These initiatives have significantly focused on combating ‘digital arrest’ scams, where fraudsters impersonate government officials to extort victims. Posing as law enforcement personnel, these scammers accuse individuals of criminal activities and often demand compliance through video conferencing platforms like Skype.
Victims face financial losses and a profound erosion of trust in digital platforms and authorities.
Citizens have been encouraged to report suspicious activities through the cybercrime helpline (1930) or the online portal www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Another government agency, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) rolled out tougher rules to combat spam calls in India. The authority also directed telecom operators to inspect text messages for web addresses and links to over-the-top messaging services.
The policies implemented by TRAI resulted in a 20% decrease in spam complaints.
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