Cyber News Archives - Page 6 of 13

Pimpri-Chinchwad Cops Nab Duo in Multinational Cyber Scam Involving ₹2.5 Crore Fraud

Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police arrested two individuals for supplying mule bank accounts used in a ₹2.52 crore share market scam targeting a senior citizen. The network involved links to cybercriminals from Dubai, Pakistan, and other countries, using accounts sourced from vulnerable individuals. On April 22, 2025, officials said that two people had been arrested by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police’s cyber division for giving mule bank accounts to two scammers, one from Dubai and one from Pakistan. On March 24, police say a senior citizen who retired from the state irrigation department lost ₹2.52 crore in a share market scam. On social media, the accused, who subsequently testified before the police, contacted the complainant and assured him of substantial financial returns. When the elderly man realised he had been tricked, he went to the police. One Balasaheb Sakharam Chaure from Kaij in the Beed district has already been taken into custody by the cyber police in this case. “Further investigation showed that some of the fraud money was received in a bank account operating from Sangli,” stated Pravin Swami, assistant police inspector of the Pimpri-Chinchwad police’s cyber cell. Consequently, our teams hurried to Sangli and arrested Amol Patil, who had transferred 6% of Yunus Dilawar Chaughule’s bank account to him. On April 17, both defendants were taken into custody in Sangli. Yunus Dilawar owns and operates a mobile store. A man from Madhya Pradesh was contacted by both of the arrested suspects, according to additional research. During their time in Madhya Pradesh, they worked together. Police believe Yunus Dilawar was assigned to obtain bank accounts from Sangli and transfer them to the Madhya Pradesh-based individual. To yet, Yunus has given the Madhya Pradesh-based man access to eight or ten of these bank accounts, for which he has paid ₹2 to ₹2.5 lakh in fees. The Madhya Pradesh suspect is being sought, according to the police. The investigation found that Ganesh Kale was from Dubai and Chaure was a member of a cybercrime group commanded by a Pakistani individual. Chaure in the Marathwada area used to give the two mule bank accounts. When he first met Chaure, Kale was employed as an MLM (multilevel marketing) executive. Kale and the Pakistani national persuaded Chaure to grant them commission-based mule bank accounts. Chaure has collected ₹2.5 lakh in commission and has so far transferred 15 to 20 mule bank accounts from the Marathwada region. To open these bank accounts, he used to get official documentation from labourers, drivers, and uneducated people. Additionally, he had communication with cybergangs based in Nepal, Dubai, and other countries, according to Assistant Inspector Pravin Swami of the Pimpri-Chinchwad police cyber cell.

Shaadi.com in Trouble: Hyderabad Police File Cyber Fraud Case Against Anupam Mittal’s Platform

The Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have filed a case against Shaadi.com after a woman was defrauded of ₹11 lakh through a fake profile on the platform. The incident has sparked concerns over the site’s lax verification processes and raised questions about digital intermediary accountability. A lady doctor was defrauded of Rs 11 lakh by a phoney profile on Shaadi.com, prompting Hyderabad’s Cybercrime Police to open a formal probe into the website. According to reports, J Vamshi Krishna, the accused, utilised a premium account to fabricate a phoney persona to entice the victim with promises of marriage. Without conducting any background checks or verification, Krishna took advantage of the platform’s services to directly access the victim. He persuaded the woman to send money by claiming financial hardship, and then he threatened her with private information. Officials characterised this as an instance of money abuse combined with strategic emotional blackmail. Shaadi.com Under Fire for Careless Verification and Profit Motive Krishna had committed similar crimes in at least 20 other cases in several states, according to investigations. Shaadi.com allegedly failed to authenticate papers or verify identification, allowing fraudsters to take advantage of unchecked vulnerabilities, even though it marketed its premium profiles as “verified.” The platform’s revenue-first strategy, which put subscriptions ahead of consumer safety, was condemned by sources in the cybercrime section. Concerns regarding intermediary accountability were raised when the suspect’s phoney profile was accepted and permitted to interact directly with users without the need for required safety procedures like ID verification. Policy Implications and Legal Repercussions for Digital Platforms Shaadi.com has been booked by the police under the Information Technology Act and pertinent Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections. The case is being looked into as a precedent for digital intermediary accountability under India’s developing cyber laws, in addition to being probed as a stand-alone fraud. The controversy surrounding India’s digital economy and the absence of regulations governing dating and marriage platforms has been reignited by this high-profile reservation. Cybersecurity experts contend that platforms should be held responsible for failures resulting from their lack of due diligence if they offer “verified” services.

High-Tech Hoax: Fraudster Steals ₹1.10 Cr by Using a WhatsApp Profile Picture

A fraudster impersonated a company chairman on WhatsApp using a fake profile picture and tricked a Chief Revenue Officer into transferring ₹1.10 crore. Authorities urge extra caution with financial requests over messaging apps and have launched an investigation under cybercrime laws. In a startling cyber fraud case, a con artist acting as the business’s chairman on WhatsApp scammed a 51-year-old Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of a private company in Dharashiv out of over ₹1.10 crore. On April 15, a person posing as the company’s chairman sent the victim a WhatsApp message, according to police officials. The chairman’s photo was used as the profile picture, so even though the message was from an unknown number, the CRO thought it was authentic. Citing the new number as his updated contact, the sender requested that he save it. The impostor got in touch with the CRO once more two days later and asked about the balance of the company’s account. To further win his faith, the scammer pretended to be meeting with government representatives and urgently asked for ₹1.10 crore to be sent for a project-related expense. After receiving the bank account information, the CRO made the transfer since they thought it was a legitimate request. When the company’s accountant told the actual chairman about the transaction, the fraud was exposed. The chairman was shocked and explained that he had not asked for such a transfer. When the CRO discovered the fraud, he contacted the bank right away and then informed the police. Along with pertinent provisions of the Information Technology Act, such as Section 66C (identity theft) and Section 66D (cheating by personation utilising computer resources), a cheating case has been filed under Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. To find the fraudster and retrieve the money that was sent, investigations are being conducted. The public and business professionals have once again been advised by authorities to handle financial transactions with extreme caution and to double-check requests, particularly those made over messaging platforms.

Cyber Fraud Alert: Ministry Of Home Affairs Warns Citizens about Fake Booking Websites Targeting Pilgrims and Tourists

The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned against rising online booking scams targeting tourists via fake websites and social media ads. Citizens are urged to verify platforms before payments and report fraud through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal or helpline 1930. Mumbai: The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned the public about online booking scams, particularly those that target tourists and religious pilgrims nationwide. According to the officials, these scams are being carried out via Facebook postings, phoney websites, misleading social media profiles, and sponsored ads on search engines like Google. According to statistics, Mumbai recorded 19 cases involving bogus websites in the first quarter of this year; just four of these cases were found, and three people were taken into custody. The officials claim that these scams entail the establishment of phoney but professional-looking websites, social media profiles, and WhatsApp accounts that offer services like online taxi and taxi service bookings, holiday packages, religious tours, and helicopter reservations for Kedarnath, Chaar Dhaam, pilgrims’ guest houses, and hotels. “Unsuspecting individuals, upon making payments through these portals, often realise they have been duped when no confirmation or service is received, and the contact numbers go unreachable,” the alert read. “Be sure a website is legitimate before making a purchase. When clicking on “sponsored” or unidentified links on Facebook, WhatsApp, or Google, exercise caution. To double-check reservations, only utilise trustworthy travel agencies or official government websites. The warning further said, “Report such websites right away at the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal: www.cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 in case of any fraud.” The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre is taking several steps to stop these scams. Scam signals are often communicated with IT intermediaries like Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp for proactive identification. States and UTS where crimes originate are being made more aware of cybercrime hotspots. Fake websites /advertisements and impersonating social media accounts are being deleted periodically to safeguard citizens. The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal’s suspect checking and reporting tool was created to make reporting easier, according to government representatives.

Karnataka orders formation of cyber command unit within state police to tackle rising cybercrimes

The Karnataka government has established a Cyber Command unit within the state police to address the surge in cybercrimes, with 52,000 cases reported last year. The unit will operate under the Home Department and be led by the DGP for Cybercrime and Narcotics, using existing posts to minimize costs. On April 9, 2025, the Karnataka government issued an edict establishing a Cyber Command section within the state police to solely address the increasing number of cybercrime charges. According to the government directive, the Cyber Command unit will report directly to the state home department rather than the state police chief. It will be supervised by the Director General of Police for Cybercrime and Narcotics inside the Criminal Investigation Department. Traditional crimes like robbery, dacoity, and other types of physical theft have now been surpassed by cybercrimes. According to government sources, Karnataka recorded 52,000 cybercrimes last year, the most of any South Indian state. 43 CEN (cyber, economics, and narcotics) police stations, cyber-crime police stations operating under DGP, and CID under the Cyber Crimes Prevention Unit will be renamed by the government as part of the project. Up to 193 current police positions of all levels have been reorganized to operate under the cyber command. The Karnataka State Excise Act, 1965 (Karnataka Act, 21 of 1966), the Lotteries Act, 1964, the Karnataka State Lottery Rules, 1999, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 (Central Act, 37 of 1967), the Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act, 2000 (Karnataka Act, 1 of 2002), and the Information Technology Act, 2000 all grant the CEN police stations the authority to file cases. Additionally, they are authorized to register offences under sections 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 489 (A-E) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) where the total amount involved exceeds Rs 50 lakh and to register money deposit frauds. To effectively prevent cybercrimes in Karnataka, the order states, “The Director General and Inspector General of Police have reviewed this proposal and considered it appropriate to establish a new Cyber Command Unit in the state without creating any new posts, using the existing posts, and without incurring much financial burden.” The Deputy Chief Secretary to the Government, Department of Home Affairs, will oversee the Cyber Command, which will be established by separating the positions of the DGP, Narcotics, and Cyber Crime in the CID Division. Pronab Mohanty, an IPS officer from the 1994 batch, is currently the DGP Narcotics and Cyber Crime. The government order states that the DG Cyber Command will oversee the Karnataka Cyber Security Policy and serve as the state’s Chief Information Security Officer. Additionally, a Multi Departmental Coordinating Committee (MDCC), established in March 2024 to handle disinformation cases, will report to the DG Cyber Command.

Helpline 1930 links Panchkula cyber victims to prompt action

Increased awareness of cybercrime helpline 1930 in Panchkula has led to a rise in fraud reporting, faster recovery of funds, and more arrests. In early 2025, FIRs and recoveries nearly doubled compared to the previous year due to timely reporting. Increased awareness of the National Cybercrime Helpline 1930 has led to a rise in complaints, better recovery of fraudulent payments, and more arrests of scammers, so Panchkula residents are reporting online scams more swiftly. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched a specialized cybercrime helpline in 2021 to allow victims to report online fraud immediately. This helps to quickly freeze illicit transactions and, eventually, aid in recovery. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) created the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), which runs the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and helpline. In the first three months of 2025, Panchkula cyber police received 911 complaints of fraud totalling ₹7.62 crore. Compared to the same period in 2024, when 807 complaints about losses totalling ₹7.38 crore were received, this indicates a 12% rise. Between January and March of this year, the number of FIRs filed about cyber scams doubled from 21 in 2024 to 43 this year. As evidenced by the fact that ₹32.95 lakh (43%) of the ₹75.53 lakh that were put on hold after the crimes were reported through the helpline was recovered in January–March 2025, more complaints and prompt reporting are also leading to prompt action. Only ₹35,712 (0.31%) of the ₹1.12 crore that had been kept through the helpline during the same time in 2024 was returned. Arrests doubled from the first quarter of 2024 There are also more arrests as a result of the greater awareness. In 2024, nine cybercriminals were apprehended in the first quarter. That figure has increased to 17 this year. Inspector Munish Kumar, who is in charge of the Panchkula cybercrime police station, stressed how important it is to call the 1930 helpline as soon as possible to stop the transaction chain. “Timely reporting is essential. It maximizes the likelihood of recovery before the money goes down the chain by quickly connecting victims with banks and law enforcement. “Campaigns targeting senior citizens, ex-servicemen, resident welfare associations, market welfare associations, schools, and colleges are being held regularly to raise public awareness about the helpline and to combat cybercrime,” he continued. Furthermore, according to a cyber police official, the 1930 helpline currently receives 90% of Panchkula’s cybercrime reports. In total, 3,615 cyber fraud complaints ttotalling₹11.90 crore were filed with the Panchkula police last year. In addition, 169 FIRs ttotalling₹42.21crorese were filed. After the 1930 helpline helped put ₹10.36 crore on hold, the victims received ₹6.06 crore.

Police in Tamil Nadu issued a warning about the possible dangers of creating Ghibli art online

The Tamil Nadu Police Cyber Crime Wing has warned against using Ghibli AI Art generators, citing risks of data theft, identity fraud, and malware. Users uploading selfies to unofficial sites may unknowingly expose personal information to scams and cybercrimes. People have been alerted by the Tamil Nadu police to the possible dangers of creating “Ghibli AI Art” by sharing pictures or selfies. According to a statement from the State Police’s Cyber Crime Wing, the public’s use of Ghibli AI Art has alarmingly increased in recent days. The Ghibli AI Art generators created anime-like representations from user-uploaded images or selfies based on the user’s facial features. Users frequently overlook or undervalue the risks associated with this, though. The AI system would examine and record the surroundings, faces, and facial expressions. Without the user’s express consent, these uploads are utilized to train the AI. As stated in the announcement, “continuous uploading [of photos or selfies] will increase the system’s knowledge base.” Concerns were raised about the users’ inability to quickly remove the data they had submitted. There was no sure-fire method to ask for deletion in the case of image uploads. According to the police, users who distribute and use Ghibli’s artwork on internet platforms without permission, especially if they get it through dubious or unofficial means, run the possibility of falling victim to cybercrimes. Photographs uploaded on any dubious link could result in issues like data leaks or data being sold to unidentified advertising companies. A lot of websites that provided Ghibli artworks for free downloads were fronts for scams. Data loss and identity theft may result from users downloading content from these sources and unintentionally infecting their devices with malware, viruses, or ransomware. Popular Ghibli characters and artwork can be used by scammers as bait in phishing con games. Fake giveaways, competitions, or links to free Ghibli art downloads are frequently a part of these fraudulent efforts. If you click on these links, you could lose money or have your bank information and personal information stolen, the police said.

Aadhaar Seva Kendra staff with access to data of thousands of visitors on cybercrime net

Two men from Haryana, including a former Aadhaar Seva Kendra staffer, were arrested by CID for forging Aadhaar and PAN cards to create fake firms and commit a ₹43 lakh Bitcoin scam. The accused misused the Aadhaar data of thousands of visitors, prompting a cybersecurity alert. CID investigators revealed that one of the two individuals detained from Haryana about a cyber scam purportedly led by bank management had previously worked at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra. The database of thousands of visitors to the centre was available to him. Officers from the state CID’s cyber police investigated a complaint from a resident of Chandernagore and discovered that several fake Aadhaar cards were used to register shell firms and related bank accounts. Himanshu Solanki, 32, and Praveen Kumar, 29, of Faridabad, Haryana, were detained by the state CID on 06 April 2025 suspicion of fabricating Aadhaar Seva Kendra and PAN cards as well as fictitious businesses using forged documents. Praveen Kumar altered his name to create several Aadhaar cards. He is identified as Paresh Kumar in one, Praveen Kumar in another, and Pratap Kumar in the third. Despite having different identities, they all share the same Aadhaar number, an officer stated. CID detectives believe that the gang, which has been falsifying the information of visitors to Aadhaar Seva Kendra, has other members. “It is best to mask your Aadhaar card so that the number will not be visible to anyone else, even if you use a photocopy,” a CID officer advised. To send an alert to the holder’s cell phone if someone attempts to commit any fraudulent conduct with their Aadhaar number, the police also suggested tying the Aadhaar to that number. According to CID officers, the accused defrauded the complainant of ₹43 lakh by enticing him to make a Bitcoin investment. On social media, he had seen the investment scheme’s marketing. A branch manager of a nationalized bank and his wife, who was stationed in Murshidabad, received the proceeds of the crime, the police discovered later in the investigation. The manager of the branch has already been taken into custody. He is being held by the police.

Fake Facebook Account of Joint Commissioner Used in Online Scam

Cybercriminals impersonated Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Joint Commissioner Madhur Varma on Facebook to scam people with fake sales offers. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel was hacked and filled with cryptocurrency content, raising concerns over government cybersecurity. The Joint Commissioner of Delhi’s Anti-Corruption Branch’s Facebook profile was once again made by cybercriminals in a startling instance of online impersonation. Details reveal that fraudsters utilized the fictitious Madhur Varma persona to deceive individuals into purchasing electronics and furnishings at “cheap rates.” The scammers allegedly messaged Varma’s contacts pretending to be him, offering home items for sale, and claiming that a “CRPF friend” was being moved and needed to sell off his belongings urgently. The messages were designed to trick consumers by seeming believable and welcoming. The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) section will receive a formal complaint from Joint Commissioner Varma on Tuesday as a result of this. Additionally, he has used Facebook social media to warn the public of frauds that are being run under his name. The response of Joint Commissioner Madhur Varma Varma has also urged people to remain alert and report any suspicious activities right away. He has advised people to double-check any strange correspondence purporting to be from him, particularly when it involves money or purchases. “This has happened before. Three phoney profiles of the senior officer have already been made by Facebook scammers. Although two of them were removed earlier, sources claim that this is the third attempt to abuse his identity. The Supreme Court’s YouTube account was compromised. Notably, the Supreme Court’s official YouTube account was also compromised last year; as a result, it currently displays the moniker “Ripple” rather than “Supreme Court of India.” Videos about cryptocurrencies have taken the place of the nation’s highest judicial authority’s customary legal content in a concerning cyberattack. Work is being done to restore the channel and its original material after the theft sparked worries about the internet security of government digital assets. To find the people responsible for this occurrence, officials are currently looking into the breach.

Financial frauds top Mizoram cybercrimes, over half of total cases filed

Financial frauds is the most common cybercrime in Mizoram, accounting for over 56% of the 321 cases reported since 2020. Authorities have recovered ₹1.42 crore, with 113 arrests and 40 convictions made in cybercrime cases during this period. According to official data, financial fraud accounted for 56.38 per cent of the 321 cases that were filed between January 2020 and March 11 of this year, making it the most prevalent cybercrime in Mizoram. According to data from the state cybercrime police station, 181 occurrences of financial crimes were reported during that time, mostly online banking fraud and impersonation deception. Identity theft (32 incidents), child pornography (16), harassment on social media (nine), copyright infringement (seven), false rumours (five), and hacking (one) are among the other offences. According to the archives, 2022 saw the greatest number of financial crimes, with 107 incidents documented. Approximately Rs 1.42 crore was recovered in financial frauds cases between 2021 and March 11, 2025. Records show that the state had the highest number of cybercrimes in 2022 (158 incidents), followed by 2023 (72 cases). Of the 41 cybercrime instances that occurred in 2024, 15 involved sexual harassment and 17 involved financial offences. Thirteen cases of cybercrime were recorded as of March 11 of this year, including six cases of sexual harassment and four cases of financial frauds. According to the records, since 2021, 113 people—including eight minors—have been arrested in cybercrime cases, and 40 of them have been found guilty.

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