Cyber update

Pig butchering scam: New cyber fraud targets unemployed youth, students, housewife’s

The government has issued an alert about a new cyber fraud scheme called the ‘pig butchering scam,’ which targets unemployed youth, students, and vulnerable individuals. Victims not only lose money but are also forced into cyber slavery. NEW DELHI: The government has warned of a new cybercrime scheme known as the “pig butchering scam,” which preys on vulnerable people, students, and jobless youth. Victims not only lose money but are also forced into cyber slavery, officials said on 27 February 2025. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs claimed that this was also emphasized in their most recent annual report, which was released last month. They also mentioned that dishonest people and organizations have been observed using Google services platforms to commit these crimes. A senior official stated, “Reports from the cyber intelligence wing indicate that a new online fraud module, called ‘Pig Butchering Scam’ or ‘Investment Scam,’ has been observed circulating in cyberspace. It targets unemployed youths, housewives, students, and those in need, who are either tricked into losing large sums of money every day or lured into engaging in cyber slavery.” “The Google Ads platform offers a convenient way to post targeted ads from across the border,” he stated. the “Pig Butchering Scam” or the “Investment Scam,” this scam is a global phenomenon that involves widespread money laundering and even cyber slavery. According to sources, it is believed that this kind of scam began in China in 2016. They claimed that in these fraud modules, criminals prey on unsuspecting people, with whom they gradually gain trust, then persuade them to invest in cryptocurrency or another profitable scheme before embezzling the money they have earned. The fattening of pigs before their slaughter is the source of the comparison to pig butchering, according to the officials. According to the officials, cybercriminals use this fraud model to deceive victims by gaining their trust and then using them as slaves to commit various online crimes. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) within the MHA cooperated with Google to share threat intelligence for periodic prompt action to successfully deal with the danger when the trend became apparent, according to the officials. In addition to Google, the officials stated that sponsored Facebook links are being aggressively detected and shared with the social media platform for appropriate action. These connections are being used by hackers to initiate illicit financing applications in India.

Cyber Fraud Alert: ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam Defrauds Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University of Rs 14 Lakh, Case Filed

She placed the money into the scammer’s account after the con artists sought Rs 14 lakh from Berhampur University VC to free her from “digital arrest.” Berhampur University (Odisha): Even if authorities are frequently aware of the dangers that exist in cyberspace, scammers continue to come up with new strategies to trick people. The most recent victim is Prof. Geetanjail Dash, the vice-chancellor of Berhampur University in Bhanja, Bihar, who was allegedly defrauded of Rs 14 lakh after becoming the victim of “digital arrest.” How VC Fell Prey To Cyber Criminals Police claim that Prof. Dash was tricked by cybercriminals posing as Enforcement Directorate (ED) representatives. Subsequently, she was forced to believe that the ED was watching her because of an unreported cash deposit in a bank account in her name. The criminal, posing as an ED officer, called Prof. Geetanjail Dash on February 12. The scammer said that her Aadhaar number was discovered to be connected to a case of financial irregularities involving the payment of crores of rupees into her account, which the Supreme Court is currently investigating. Along with talking to her about her family, the unidentified caller advised her to empty her bank account before the audit. The Vice-Chancellor then allegedly revealed all of her details. The fraudster called her over the last four days and persuaded her to deposit a cheque for Rs 14 lakh. According to insiders, when the phone was turned off following the deposit, suspicion increased. The issue was brought to light following a complaint filed with the Berhampur University Cyber Police Station. Based on this, a case was filed on February 24 under several provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case was filed under BNS sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 308(2), and 351(2) as well as IT Act sections 66(C) and 66(D), according to the police. What Berhampur SP Said Berhampur SP According to the complaint of Berhampur University VC Prof. Geetanjali Dash, a case was filed at the Cyber Police Station on February 24th, Saravana Vivek M said. On February 12, she claimed to have gotten a call from an unidentified number. The individual, posing as an ED officer, accused her of being involved in an ED case. She was informed that an account had been created in her name and that crores of illicit funds had been transferred into it. In the evening, she was held under digital arrest. She was asked to pay the accused offenders Rs 14 lakh for “release,” which she complied with and deposited into the scammer’s bank account. An investigation is underway, and the fraudsters in the case will be apprehended shortly. The top police official warned people not to answer unknown calls or give them personal information.”People should be aware of the cyber crimes happening around them and refrain from having contact with any such unknown person,” said the SP.

India’s Intensified Offensive Against Cybercrime: A Multi-Pronged Approach

India Strengthens Fight Against Cybercrime, Disables Over 800,000 Fraudulent Accounts and Prevents Rs 4,800 Crore in Losses India is strengthening its hold on cybercriminals as authorities take decisive measures to destroy the network of digital fraud that has afflicted both individuals and organizations. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), which is leading the nation’s continuing cybercrime attack, has achieved great progress in thwarting the activities of con artists and fraudsters. By November 2024, the gadgets that enabled several illicit operations were rendered inoperable by the authorities, who had disabled approximately 669,000 SIM cards and 132,000 IMEIs. In a series of surgical attacks, 59,000 WhatsApp accounts and more than 1,700 Skype IDs—both frequently used by thieves to plan fraud—were also shut down. This thorough strategy has dealt serious harm to the cybercrime infrastructure. The Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), which unites banks, financial institutions, and law enforcement to coordinate real-time responses to fraud, is an essential component of the offensive. A significant accomplishment of the CFMC is the freezing of 860,000 mule accounts, which stopped the illicit flow of funds. To stop fraudulent transactions, the government has also implemented a digital database called the Suspect Registry. Over Rs 1,400 crore has been saved as a result of the successful blocking of 560,000 suspect transactions. With new rules aimed against international spoof calls—a common way for scammers to pose as Indian authorities—India is making efforts that go beyond its borders. Furthermore, The Oppidan Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (introduced in 2021) has saved Rs 3,431 crore by enabling consumers to report fraud via an online portal and toll-free helpline. Seven Joint Cyber Coordination Teams (JCCTs) have been placed in well-known cybercrime hotspots like Mewat and Jamtara as part of the increased nation’s policing efforts. The preparatory goal of these groups is to strengthen interstate collaboration to combat digital fraud. The National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) in New Delhi is an essential part of law action advanced forensic analytical support, having assisted with over 11,000 cybercrime cases since its installation. India’s outlook on combating cybercrime is developing into a complete security strategy that combines technology, intelligence, and citizen copartnership to keep criminals at bay. This multifaceted approach strengthens the country’s cyber defences against potential attacks while also combating digital fraud.

Fraudster arrested for ensnaring hundreds in a sextortion scheme while posing as a YouTube employee in Delhi

The Delhi Police Crime Branch’s Cyber Cell detained a Rajasthani citizen on 25 February 2025 for reportedly impersonating Rahul Sharma, a YouTube employee, and extorting individuals by threatening to post their pornographic movies on the website. The defendant is a 27-year-old native of Bharatpur named Sahid. A non-bailable warrant bond was issued against him in connection with the 2022 case. Police said that to further scare certain victims, Sahid allegedly pretended to be Inspector Surender from the Delhi Police Crime Branch. He is accused of using WhatsApp video conversations to record hundreds of people’s graphic films and then blackmailing them. According to a report received by the cyber unit, in November 2022, the complainant was contacted by someone posing as a YouTube employee. The person claimed to have an offensive video of the complainant and requested payment to prevent it from being released. The victim initially transferred Rs 3.61 lakh to multiple bank accounts. However, as the extortion persisted, the plaintiff was forced to pay an extra Rs 25 lakh in several transactions. According to Aditya Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Cyber Cell Crime, “[Rahul Sharma]in YouTube employee was acting as an agent of one Sandeep Aggarwal who was previously arrested and had organized an extortion scheme along with others,” according to the results of the investigation. Using technology YouTube employee and on-the-ground surveillance, police tracked Sahid’s movements in several locations, including Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Nuh in Haryana. Following a raid in Yamuna Nagar and Haryana on 23 February, he was arrested and held under five days of remand, officials said. He was charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 384 (extortion), 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating), and 120B (criminal cabal). Sahid admitted upon questioning that he had only completed Class 3 of Gokulpur, Nuh. He was raised as an orphan, married in 2009, and battled to make ends meet while farming for his wife and five kids. Through a friend named Wasim, he was exposed to a sextortion network run by a man named Mazid in 2022, according to the DCP. “Sahid joined the gang and started using false identities to conduct extortion and cyber fraud schemes. DCP Gautam continued, “It is anticipated that his arrest will result in the dismantling of a larger network of cybercriminals.”

Rs 157.90 crore cyber crime fraud committed across India: Gurugram Police

“Cybercriminals used fake investments, online loans and impersonation to defraud thousands of people across India Gurugram Police busts cybercrime syndicate behind Rs 157.90 crore fraud, arrests 27 accused” On 24 February 2025, the Gurugram Police said that their cybercrime squads had apprehended 27 persons, including a young cybercriminal who had scammed people in 14,633 complaints totalling Rs 157.90 crore nationwide. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordinate Center (I4C) provided the police with data from 17 cell phones and three SIM cards recovered from the accused. The police said the data showed that the accused were involved in approximately Rs 157.90 crore in fraud and that 14,633 complaints had been filed against them throughout India. Out of 14,633 complaints, 611 were turned into cases in this regard, and they were filed all over India. Out of 611 cases filed against them in Haryana, 28 were filed against them—four of which were in Gurugram. Before the salutes, the accused disclosed that they had previously engaged in task-based fraud, digital arrest, investment fraud, KYC fraud, and fraud involving the creation of fictitious IDs on Instagram and defrauding people. The investigative teams found three SIM cards, two debit cards, and seven cell phones in the accused’s hands. Priyanshu Diwan, ACP (South), stated, “The accused used to defraud people in the name of investing in the stock market, loans made online, and offered lucrative offers to the victims and duped them.” He claimed that to combat these scams, the Gurugram police are collaborating closely with various organizations and institutions. Gurugram Police on to say, “We urged the public to avoid such suspicious callers and to exercise caution when disclosing personal information to strangers who are stalking them online.” “The cybercriminals commit fraud by enticing people with good profits, investing in the stock market, lowering electricity bills, extorting through video calls on WhatsApp, morphing, sending links through various means, posing as a customs officer or police officer to implicate false charges, issuing a No-Objection Certificate, digitally arresting people by demonstrating the fear of implicating them in a criminal case, etc.,” he said.

Private bank employee among two held in Rs 4.97 crore cyber fraud case in Gurugram

“Gurugram Police Detain Two, Including IndusInd Bank Manager, in Rs 4.97 Crore Cyber Fraud; 27 Bank Employees Arrested in Related Cases” In a case involving a Rs 4.97 crore cyber fraud, the Gurugram police have detained two individuals, one of whom is the business development manager of the Delhi branch of IndusInd Bank. Profitable stock market returns were guaranteed by the accused. The bank employee who was arrested was accused of helping cybercriminals obtain bank accounts. In several cyber fraud cases, the Gurugram police have so far detained 27 bank personnel. According to the police, a case was filed at the Cyber Crime East police station under the appropriate sections after a report about a Rs 4.97 crore cyber fraud was received on November 30 of last year. Avinash Sharma, a resident of Delhi’s Rani Bagh, and Aditya Chaturvedi, an Uttar Pradesh native, were taken into custody by a squad of cyber police as they were looking into the issue. Aditya has spent the previous two years at Delhi’s IndusInd Bank as a business development manager. The police investigation found that the fraud was committed using Avinash’s bank account. Aditya had received Rs 25,000 from Avinash for the bank account. While Aditya was employed at the bank, he met someone else who had tricked him into giving Rs 50,000 for a current account and Rs 10,000 for a savings bank account with Rs 4.97 crore cyber fraud. Aditya would then provide Avinash access to the bank account information. The same bank account, which belongs to Avinash Sharma, has been the subject of 12 complaints in the states of Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir. “We are interrogating the defendant,” Priyanshu Dewan, ACP (Cyber), stated. However, the cyber police detained someone for giving a bank account to a man who was engaged in cybercrime. Raju, a resident of Rajasthan’s Kedar Colony in Ganganagar, has been identified as the accused.

Myawaddy Scam Valley: 2,000 Indians working in Myanmar’s Cybercrime network.

Thousands of Indians Tricked into Cyber Scams in Myanmar’s Myawaddy Scam Valley, A Militia-Controlled Region, Authorities Warn of Legal Repercussions In Myawaddy Scam Valley, a militia-controlled area close to the Myanmar-Thailand border, about 2,000 Indians are currently engaged in cyber scam activities. Many of them were allegedly tricked by phoney job offers and are now being compelled to conduct online fraud against victims in the US and India. Authorities warn that although some people have been saved, the scam’s scope is far more than first thought. The Indian embassy has warned that individuals who intentionally engage in these frauds will be subject to legal repercussions, even as it works to remove the impacted citizens. Myawaddy Scam Valley Indian officials have warned that to avoid falling into similar traps, job seekers should confirm employment offers in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Workers in Myawaddy Scam Valley , a militia-controlled area close to the Myanmar-Thailand border, are forced under coercion to participate in internet fraud schemes, making it a key hub for cybercrime. Many victims are enticed by fictitious job promises and end themselves stuck in scam centres, unable to leave until they pay large ransoms. Although attempts to intervene have been hampered by the anarchic character of the area, Indian consular personnel are making an effort to evacuate individuals in need. In response to international criticism, Thai authorities have shut off fuel, electricity, and internet in strategic locations where these operations are taking place. Additionally, China has called on Thailand to crack down on the international power networks that support these scam syndicates. The crisis still exists despite these actions. Even though at least 150 Indians have been named as victims, investigators think the true number is much higher because many of them are allegedly working freely and have not reported the incident to the police. Three Indians escaped from a scam centre in Myawaddy on February 18 and arrived in Yangon with the help of the embassy. They are currently undergoing repatriation processing. Large-scale rescue efforts are still challenging, although, because of the instability in the area. More than 600 Indians have been saved from scam networks in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar since June 2022, underscoring the continued danger for job seekers in the area.

Gujarat Budget 2025-26: Rs 352 crore push to check cyber crime

Gujarat Budget 2025-26: Rs 352 crore push to check cybercrime and Cyber Centre of Excellence, Anti-Narcotics Task Force to be set up in Gujarat GANDHINAGAR: On 20 February 2025, the Gujarat government stated that it would establish an anti-narcotics task force (ANTF) and a cyber centre of excellence for cybercrime (CCECC) to create a robust framework to combat the exponential increase in drug-peddling and cybercrime cases. Finance Minister Kanu Desai stated that Rs 352 crore had been set up for these projects in the state’s 2025–2026 budget. “A state-level CCECC and cyber forensic units (CFU) will be established, with an emphasis on law enforcement and cyber security. To take tough measures against drug trafficking, an ATF operative team would be established, Desai stated. In his budget speech, he also mentioned that the government intends to hire 14,000 SRP members and establish 1,390 new traffic police positions. Desai stated that Rs 299 crore has been allocated for 1,186 posts under the CCECC, out of a total of Rs 12,659 crore for the home department. At the state level, the centre will deal with topics including cyber security and cyber intelligence. and Rs 352 crore push to check cybercrime The ANTF was given a budget of Rs 23 crore, and each district was given Rs 30 crore to establish Cyber Forensic Units (CFUs). The finance minister stated that the acquisition of equipment for specialized squads such as the Chetak commandos, the state disaster response force, the quick reaction team, and the bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS) will cost approximately Rs 63 crore.