thecybershark - The Cyber Shark

Harness ‘double AI power’ to tackle high-tech crime: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 01/12/2024 called upon the police and security establishment to harness India’s double AI power of Artificial Intelligence and ‘Aspirational India’ to thwart the threats from digital fraud, cybercrime, and AI technology, particularly the potential of deepfake to disrupt social and familial relations. Addressing the DGP and IG conference on a concluding day, the prime minister also emphasized the transformation of the police to SMART through strategic, meticulous, adaptable, reliable, and transparent action while urging the law enforcement agencies to modernize and realign themselves with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. He appreciated the initiatives taken in urban policing and suggested that each initiative be collated and implemented entirely in 100 cities of the country. He called for the use of technology to reduce the constabulary’s workload and suggested that police stations be made the focal point for resource allocation. He also highlighted the need to expand the focus on port security and prepare a plan of action for it. Recalling the unparalleled contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the prime minister exhorted the entire security establishment from MHA to the police stations, to pay homage to the great leader on his 150th birth anniversary next year, by resolving to set and achieve a goal on any aspect which would improve the image of police, professionalism and capabilities. The prime minister said wide-ranging discussions were held during the conference on national and international dimensions of security challenges. He expressed satisfaction with the counter strategies that emerged from the deliberations. He distributed the President’s police medal for distinguished service to officers of the Intelligence Bureau. Official sources said that in-depth discussions were held on existing and emerging challenges to national security, including counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, cyber-crime, economic security, immigration, coastal security, and narco-trafficking. Emerging security concerns along the border with Bangladesh and Myanmar, trends in urban policing, and strategies for countering malicious narratives were also discussed. The conference was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, ministers of state for home Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, principal secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra, and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan. The conference, which was held in a hybrid format, was attended by DGPs of all states and Union Territories heads of the central armed police forces and central police organizations physically, and over 750 officers of various ranks virtually.

Duplicate SIM Card Fraud: Protect Yourself from Cyber Scams

SIM Card Misuse, & How to Stay Safe from Duplicate SIM Fraud in India. Duplicate SIM card fraud is one of the most alarming cybercrimes in India today, allowing scammers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information such as OTPs, banking credentials, and personal data. This crime often leads to financial loss and identity theft. Despite stringent guidelines from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), fraudsters exploit loopholes to issue duplicate SIM cards using stolen identities or forged documents. we’ll explore how this fraud occurs, TRAI’s rules to prevent it, and how you can stay safe. How Does Duplicate SIM Fraud Happen?

Man learns ‘cyber fraud tricks from YouTube’, dupes NRI of Rs 28 lakh

Palwinder Singh swapped Iqbal Singh’s SIM card for a duplicate one. Then he requested new debit cards linked to Iqbal Singh’s accounts and used the UPI platform to carry out numerous transactions. A man who duped an NRI of Rs 28 lakh after learning “cyber fraud tricks from YouTube” has been arrested, Ludhiana Police said on 26/11/2024. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, the NRI from Canada and a native of Ludhiana’s BRS Nagar discovered the fraud during his recent visit to India, the police said. Between May 12 and October 31, a total of Rs 28 lakh was siphoned from his three bank accounts without his knowledge, the police said. According to the police, the accused, Palwinder Singh, had worked as Iqbal Singh’s driver. Also, he additionally worked as a taxi driver. Investigations revealed that Palwinder Singh thoroughly planned the fraud after watching videos online that explained methods to access and transfer money from others’ bank accounts. DCP Jaskiranjit Singh Teja said that on May 11, Palwinder Singh drove Iqbal Singh to Amritsar airport for his flight to Canada. During their brief stopover at an eatery, Palwinder Singh swapped Iqbal Singh’s SIM card for a duplicate one. Unaware of the swap, Iqbal Singh replaced his Indian SIM with an international one after boarding the flight. With access to Iqbal Singh’s phone number and email password, Palwinder Singh allegedly applied his newly acquired skills. He requested new debit cards linked to Iqbal Singh’s accounts and used the UPI platform to carry out numerous transactions. He made payments at fuel stations and collected cash in return. He conducted various transactions via UPI, the police said. The DCP added that on November 13, Iqbal Singh filed a complaint with the cybercrime police, reporting unauthorized withdrawals. A detailed investigation led the police to Palwinder Singh, who confessed to the crime during questioning. The police have recovered Rs 13.58 lakh, along with several passbooks, checkbooks, and debit cards.

Govt blocks 6.69 lakh SIM cards, 1.32 lakh IMEIs to check cyber crimes

The Indian government has blocked over 669,000 fraudulent SIM cards and 132,000 IMEIs to combat cybercrime. The Centre has blocked 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 1.32 lakh International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers reported by police authorities to check cybercrimes in the country, Rajya Sabha was informed on 27/11/2024. In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said the central government and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have devised a system to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers appearing to be originating within India. “Cyber criminals have made such international spoofed calls in recent cases of fake digital arrests, FedEx scams, and impersonation of government and police officials,” the minister said. Directions have been issued to the TSPs for blocking such incoming international spoofed calls, he said. “Till November 15, 2024, more than 6.69 lakh fake SIM cards and 1.32 lakh IMEIs as reported by police authorities have been blocked by the government of India,” he said. The citizen financial cyber fraud reporting and management system under I4C was launched in 2021 to immediately report financial frauds and stop fraudsters from siphoning off funds, he said.”So far, more than Rs 3,431 crore has been saved in more than 9.94 lakh complaints,” he said.

Cyber Crime: 11,333 Crore loss in just 9 monoliths In Cyber Scams Have Hit India

Data compiled by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) shows nearly half of the 12 lakh cyber fraud complaints received in 2024 were perpetrated by fraudsters based in Southeast Asian countries — Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.According to data compiled by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), India lost approximately Rs 11,333 crore to cyber fraud in the first nine months of 2024. Stock trading scams accounted for the largest share, with losses of Rs 4,636 crore from 2,28,094 complaints. Investment-based scams caused losses of Rs 3,216 crore from 1,00,360 complaints, while Rs 1,616 crore was lost to “digital arrest” frauds across 63,481 complaints. Data from the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), as seen by The Indian Express, showed nearly 12 lakh cyber fraud complaints were received in 2024, with 45% of these originating from Southeast Asian countries—Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. Since 2021, the CFCFRMS has recorded 30.05 lakh complaints, leading to losses amounting to ₹27,914 crore. Of these, 11,31,221 complaints were registered in 2023, 5,14,741 in 2022, and 1,35,242 in 2021. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently cautioned citizens about “digital arrest” frauds during the 115th edition of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program. Stressing that no government agency contacts individuals via phone or video calls for investigations, Modi urged the public to remain alert. “There is no system like digital arrest under the law,” he said, emphasizing the importance of awareness to combat such scams. An analysis of cyber frauds this year revealed that stolen money is often withdrawn using cheques, central bank digital currency (CBDC), fintech crypto, ATMs, merchant payments, and e-wallets. Over the past year, the I4C has frozen around 4.5 lakh mule bank accounts, typically used to launder the proceeds of cybercrime. At a recent anti-terror conference, the I4C flagged challenges faced by investigators in cyber fraud cases, including the anonymity of digital wallets, foreign money exchanges, lack of KYC protocols, VPN access, and cryptocurrency frauds originating from abroad. In collaboration with the telecom ministry, the I4C has also blocked 17,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to cybercriminals operating out of Southeast Asia, as part of efforts to disrupt offshore criminal networks and strengthen India’s digital security.

Students asked to become ‘cyber citizens’ to prevent cybercrimes

Police have called upon students to become ‘cyber citizens’ and help the cyber cell officers prevent online fraud, which has been rising. At a program organized by NTR Police at Siddhartha Mahila College on 26/11/2024, Police Commissioner S.V. Rajashekar Babu cautioned the students about cyber offenses. Students performed a cultural show alerting the public on various online frauds being reported daily. Mr. Rajashekar Babu said the NTR Commissionerate Police were taking measures to enlighten the public on the ‘1930 Call Centre’, ‘Cyber Citizens Mobile App’, ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP)’, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre to check cybercrimes. “I request the students to be a cyber citizen. We will train the youngsters on different types of cyber offenses, how to respond immediately to online fraud, steps to prevent cybercrimes, where to complain about fraud, and other topics,” Mr. Rajashekar Babu said. Senior police officers explained to the girls about ‘honey trap’, an App’, ‘fake share marketing trade App’, ‘digital arrest’, ‘job frauds’, ‘matrimonial frauds’, ‘fake ED and CBI calls’, and other cyber offenses. “Fraudsters are resorting to frauds through various modus operandi. People should have knowledge of cyber frauds and help the police to prevent such frauds,” Mr. Rajashekar Babu said. Police are planning to create cyber citizens from different sectors. Training will be given to the cyber citizens, who will create awareness among the public on online frauds and the steps to avoid fake and spam calls, he said. The students carrying placards raised slogans against online fraud. College principal S. Kalpana, Junior College principal Dr. S. Padmaja, faculty T. Nagarani, K. Sarala, R. Madhavi and police officers participated.

Rs 12L refunded to FedEx parcel scam victim

The Hyderabad city cyber-crime police refunded an amount of Rs 12 lakh to victims cheated by cyber fraudsters under the pretext of FedEx. According to the police, they received a complaint from a 51-year-old male private employee from Hyderabad, stating that cyber fraudsters had cheated him under the pretext of FedEx parcels and fake police. The fraudsters made him transfer an amount of Rs 16 lakh to bank accounts provided by the accused. Following the complaint, the cybercrime police registered a case, and the investigation is underway. Inspector K Madhusudhan Rao and his team made significant efforts to send notices to the bank officials, followed up to freeze the fraudulent amount, and guided the complainant to file a petition in court for the refund of the held funds. The police said the efforts resulted in Rs 12 lakh refunding the complainant’s bank account. Cybercrime police advised people not to panic if they receive any threatening video calls claiming them to be CBI, RBI, ED, customs, judges, cybercrime police, narcotics, FedEx, BSNL, and TRAI. There is no digital arrest or inquiry in the system. If a call raises suspicions, individuals should end the call immediately, without engaging further, and any fear report near the police station. Any government agency or law enforcement officials will not make Skype calls and demand monNo government agency or law enforcement officials will ey to clear the issue. Scammers can employ psychological tactics to manipulate emotions and decision-making. Do not deposit money in the unknown bank accounts believing false promises of unknown persons.

Police hold cybercrime awareness sessions for senior citizens

Cybercrimes are rising exponentially. While Bengaluru reported 17,633 cases in 2023, it had already registered 12,356 cases by August 30, 2024. An awareness program on cyber-crimes for around 50 senior citizens was held last week at the CSI Church, Hennur Cross. The session began with a police officer asking the participants for their personal and bank details, which the senior citizens shared without hesitation. The officer then explained the common modus operandi of cyber fraudsters, the importance of data privacy, and the dos and don’ts for protecting themselves from cybercrimes. At the end of the session, he asked them again to share their bank details, and they complied. “Awareness about data privacy doesn’t come easily, especially when a trusted person or someone occupying a position of authority asks for such details,” the officer remarked. Vulnerable targets The Bengaluru City Police recently launched a cybercrime awareness campaign in collaboration with the Elders’ Helpline, recognising that senior citizens are among the most vulnerable targets for cyber fraud due to limited digital literacy. Additionally, senior citizens often have their life savings in their bank accounts, making them attractive targets for fraudsters. This campaign comes at a time when cybercrimes are rising exponentially. While the city reported 17,633 cases in 2023, it had already registered 12,356 cases by August 30, 2024. “Most of the senior citizens attending our programmes, despite being educated, are unaware that no legitimate entity — be it banks, security agencies, or courier companies — would ask for their details or claim to ‘digitally arrest’ them. “If you have done nothing wrong, there’s no need to fear. The Prime Minister himself recently clarified that the concept of a digital arrest does not exist. You should never disclose personal information, even to those claiming to represent government agencies like the police or customs. Be wary, even if they make video calls in full uniform,” he advised. Be calm “The key is to remain calm. Most cyber fraudsters induce panic to extract bank details. We hope that raising awareness about their tactics will empower seniors to refuse such requests confidently,” said Dhananjaya J.N., a counsellor from Elders’ Helpline. The campaign also offers practical tips on recognising suspicious calls, identifying common scams — such as lottery scams, fake tech support calls, and fraudulent investment schemes — and emphasises the importance of reporting cyber-crimes promptly through dedicated helplines within the crucial golden hour.

India targets offshore cyber criminals, blocks 17,000 WhatsApp accounts

Sources confirmed that these accounts were actively involved in trapping Indians through digital arrests. More than 50 per cent of the accounts had been active since January 2024. Taking a significant step against offshore criminals operating from Asian countries to dupe Indians in cyber fraud, India has successfully blocked 17,000 WhatsApp accounts. According to top-level sources familiar with the development, “In a special initiative to disrupt the offshore criminal network, Team I4C worked together with the Department of Telecom to block 17,000 WhatsApp accounts used by Southeast Asia-based cyber criminals.” Sources also confirmed that these accounts were actively involved in trapping Indians through digital arrests. More than 50 per cent of the accounts had been active since January 2024, sources said. “These accounts were used in various types of cyber fraud. Most of them were used to dupe people through digital arrests. Multiple SIM cards were used in coordination to defraud Indians. During the investigation, it was found that the locations of these accounts were not in India. Despite a tough procedure, the government managed to block these accounts,” a senior government official stated. Indian agencies also employed the latest technology and artificial intelligence to identify these accounts. Additionally, various state police forces assisted central agencies in blocking these 17,000 WhatsApp accounts. Indian agencies had previously blocked Skype accounts, and now, with the help of state cyber wings, the blocking of these WhatsApp accounts is expected to deliver a major blow to cyber criminals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already warned against the dangers of “digital arrests” and emphasized that no investigative agency ever establishes contact over the phone or video call to demand money or interrogate people. During his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast, Modi stated that this particular form of cybercrime affects all sections of society. He urged people to adopt the mantra of “stop, think, and take action” when confronted with such a scam. Under the digital arrest fraud scheme, callers impersonate police, CBI, RBI, or narcotics officials, speaking with confidence to deceive victims. “People asked me to talk about this in Mann Ki Baat. You need to understand this. The first step is collecting your personal information. The second step is creating an atmosphere of fear. They will scare you so much that you won’t even be able to think. The third step is applying time pressure. Victims of digital arrests come from all sections of society and all age groups. Many have lost lakhs of their hard-earned money. If you ever get a call like this, don’t be afraid. You should know that no investigating agency conducts such interrogations over the phone or video call,” he said.

Cybercriminals Target WhatsApp Users with Fake Wedding Invitations to Install Malware

Cybercriminals have found new ways to scam people, through fake wedding invitation links leading to potential data theft and financial loss. Would you believe sending invitations via What’s App could invite a serious cyber-attack, compromising your device and personal data? Himachal Pradesh police officials have revealed that scammers have found a new type of scam: they send malicious wedding invitations through WhatsApp in the form of APK files. When recipients download these files, it compromises their device through malware that gives full access to the scammer. Once the malware is activated, hackers can use the device for their benefit, like sending messages, stealing personal data, and even extorting money without the owner’s knowledge. How does the scam work? Scammers send WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers portraying wedding invitations. The message looks legitimate, but it is a harmful APK file. Once the recipient downloads the file, a malicious application is installed on the phone that can access sensitive data, monitor activities, and hijack mobile functions. In some cases, cybercriminals can use the device to send fraudulent messages to the victim’s contacts, requesting money or sensitive information while pretending to be the phone’s owner. This sophisticated attack can lead to financial losses and personal harm. According to DIG Mohit Chawla of Himachal Pradesh, saying, “If you receive an unexpected wedding invitation or file from an unknown number, do not click on it. Always verify the sender and the nature of the file before downloading anything onto your phone.” What to do if one is victimized? In case, this unfortunate event happens to you, authorities urge you to take immediate action. It is advised to report cyber fraud by dialing 1930, a national helpline number for cybercrime, or by visiting the official government portal at https://cybercrime.gov.in to register a complaint. Cybercrimes are surging across the country and scammers are using tactics to deceive individuals. Apart from wedding invitation scams, officials warned of an increasing number of fraudulent loan offerings circulating online. These fake loans promise easy money which is designed to steal sensitive financial information leading to identity theft and financial losses. How to stay safe in the digital age? Experts advise you to stay informed and exercise caution to avoid cyber fraud. Experts say that it is advisable to refrain from downloading unsolicited files and always verify the authenticity of online communication before taking any actions. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated in their approach, awareness and vigilance are the best defenses against becoming a victim of online scams.

Author: thecybershark