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.
