Cyber update Archives - Page 6 of 8

Crackdown on digital fraud by the Indian government: What to anticipate soon

India is ramping up digital security by blocking millions of fraudulent SIM cards and accounts while implementing AI-driven measures to combat cybercrime. With cyber fraud on the rise, the Indian government has been intensifying its efforts to safeguard digital security. Over the past few months, they have reportedly blocked more than 7.8 lakh SIM cards, 83,000+ WhatsApp accounts, and 3,000+ Skype IDs. The government has also taken a firm stand against online threats. But what does this mean for the future of India’s cybersecurity? Government’s crackdown on digital fraud Sanjay Kumar, Minister of State for Home Bundi of the Union, has recientemente revealed in the Lok Sabha que India has imposed stringent medidas against ciberdelincuentes. In addition to outlawing fake SIM cards, the government has deactivated 2,08,469 IMEI numbers, which is a crucial step in preventing misuse of devices that have been damaged or obtained illegally. Tighter regulations on messaging and video platforms Currently, authorities focus on messaging and video chatting apps, which are frequently used for fraudulent purposes. Already, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has detected and blocked: 3,962 Skype IDs 83,668 WhatsApp accounts This action suggests that stricter regulations may be implemented in digital fraud communication networks to reduce abuse. I4C and the Future of Cybercrime Prevention I4C, which was established in 2021, has played a crucial role in preventing financial fraud. It has already contribution a salvaguardar Rs 4,389 crore on possible presides de mas de 13.36 lakh reclamations. As cryptocurrency develops, more cryptocurrency monetization systems driven by artificial intelligence and time after quick responses to digital fraud crimes are anticipated. What’s Next? AI-powered cybersecurity measures It is anticipated that the government will use AI-powered monitoring technologies to quickly identify questionable activity. Future initiatives may include: Automated fraud detectors for telecommunications services financier’s Mas strictest medias KYC (Know Your Customer) para la emission de SIM cards Citizen-centric cybersecurity In initiatives To enable a person to report and monitor cases of cyber fraud, the government has implemented: 1930’s National Cyber Helpline for prompt fraud reporting Sanchar Saathi Portal and app that enables users to block stolen devices and report fake calls India is moving closer to a more secure digital fraud future by putting these measures into place, which will give its citizens more protection against cyberattacks.

Uttarakhand Police Bust International Cybercrime Gang, Arrest Two

Uttarakhand Police arrested two cyber criminals involved in international fraud using fake business accounts and cryptocurrency transactions. The accused operated via Telegram, earning commissions by converting illicit funds into Indian currency. Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Police claimed to have busted a gang of international cybercriminals by arresting two of its members, including a trainer, who is a tenth pass out, officials said. The Special Task Force (STF) also found huge funds in the shape of cryptocurrency in the mobile phones of the accused. The accused Harjinder Singh and Sandeep Singh would provide fake business accounts to other cybercriminals to transact money and exchange funds with international gangs in cryptocurrencies. This comes weeks after the central government brought 540 Indians back from Myanmar, who were trafficked by a Chinese network of cyber criminals on the pretext of jobs in Thailand. At least 22 of the victims were from Uttarakhand Police, which prompted the state government police to form an STF under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Navneet Bhullar. Uttarakhand Police Following the joint probe with CBI and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), two persons, Harjinder Singh and Sandeep Singh, were arrested near Zila Panchayat Chungi on Thanon Road ahead of Maharana Pratap Chowk under the Raipur Police Station area. The STF team recovered one laptop, seven mobile handsets, one passport, two chequebooks, three debit cards, two PAN cards, one passbook, one stamp seal and four SBI bank forms stamped in the name of some firm from the possession of the accused. According to officials, Sandeep and Harjinder, both friends, would use Telegram to connect with criminals and open fake bank accounts under various firm names for cybercriminals to use for illegal transactions globally. Later, they would receive payments in cryptocurrency (USDT), take a 1% fee per transaction and convert it into Indian currency. “Over the past year, the accused made about Rs 1.2 crore in profit, including Rs 25 lakh in March alone,” officials added.

Businessman from Hyderabad loses Rs 1.22 crores to online scammers.

Hyderabad businessman was scammed of Rs 1.22 crores through a fake online trading scheme. Police arrested Ankit Arora, while the main accused, Deepak Kumar, remains at large. Hyderabad: After being tricked into investing in an internet trading company that promised enormous earnings, a Hyderabad businessman lost Rs 1.22 crores to cyber criminals. The victim, a resident of Secunderabad, received a message on Telegram ID Doll6726@Navyaand from a stranger who lured him to invest in online trading over time. He assured me that the profits would be huge and asked him to download an application on his mobile phone. Initially, the person invested some amount for investment and in return received some profits on the investment. After businessman being mesmerized by the profits, the man sent Rs 1, 22, 87,120 to the account that the stranger, who claimed to be Deepak Kumar, had provided. After a few weeks, Deepak failed to withdraw the winnings from the victim’s wallet and asked him to transfer more money. He became suspicious and filed a report with the police. Based on the evidence they gathered, police were able to hold on to Ankit Arora, a 38-year-old native of Uttar Pradesh who had provided Deepak Kumar with his bank account credentials. Under the guise of internet trading, Deepak was able to defraud a Hyderabad man out of Rs 1, 22, 87,120 using the bank account details. Ankit Arora’s bank account received the money from the victim, and Deepak subsequently moved it to other accounts. Cybercrime police officials claimed that Deepak had given Ankit a commission. After learning that Deepak operates out of Thailand, the police will issue a Look Out Circular (LoC) for him.

Chennai Batman loses Rs 2 crore in email spoofing scam ; here’s how police recovered the entire amount from fraudsters

Chennai cybercrime police recovered Rs 2 crore lost to email spoofing scam by swiftly coordinating with global banks. Authorities advise caution with suspicious emails to prevent similar scams. The scammers who defrauded a businessman of Rs 2 crore by sending a counterfeit email to their company’s bank account to pay for their trading have been found by cybercrime police. Cybercriminals trick victims into making unauthorized payments by intercepting or mimicking official company communications. The entire amount was returned to the complainant’s bank account by the state cybercrime wing team as a result of the cybercrime officers’ prompt action. What exactly happened? According to the police, a bogus email from kunal1113@gmail.com was sent to the private company Agrigo Trading Private Limited in Chennai. Since the email was a part of a chain, the general manager of the company replied. The proforma invoice and banking information for the payment of US dollars 238,500 (Rs 2, 00,10,150) to be deposited at Regions Bank, USA, were included in the letter. On September 26, the manager made the NEFT payment via State Bank of India, Leather International Branch, Chennai, believing it to be authentic because it was connected to an earlier email exchange with the original supplier asking for a proforma invoice for payment of the amount for a business deal. It was found that the email was false and that the complainant had been defrauded when they followed up with the provider on September 27. Following Cr.No. 57/2024, u/s 318(4) of BNS 2023 & 66, 66C, 66D of IT Act 2000, the victim submitted a report through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and a case was opened at the State Cyber Crime Investigation Center. The State Bank of India, Chennai’s Leather International Branch, received requests to track down the misplaced sum. The money had been credited to Regions Bank’s account in the United States, according to confirmation from the State Bank of India. It was verified that the full amount was returned and credited to the complainant’s account as a result of the team’s sincere efforts to coordinate with the I4C, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Regions Bank, USA. This instance emphasizes how crucial it is to confirm the legitimacy of emails, particularly when significant financial transactions are at stake. This kind of fraud takes advantage of people’s confidence and can cost companies a lot of money. You must respond right away if you believe you have been the victim of similar fraudulent activities or if you have discovered any questionable activity. Call the Cyber Crime Toll-free Helpline at “1930” to report the occurrence, or file a complaint online at “www.cybercrime.gov.in.” Advisory to citizens for cyber safety: Pay close attention to the sender’s address: Phishers frequently produce phoney email addresses that resemble real ones almost exactly, with a few minor variations. Check for unusual language: An email may be fake if it has strange wording, poor grammar, or spelling errors. Look out for demands that seem suspicious or urgent: If the email requests that you do something right away, such as transferring money, changing your password, or verifying your account, proceed with caution. Examine links before clicking: To view the URL, move your mouse pointer over any links in the email without clicking. Do not click if anything appears suspicious. Notify the impersonated organization: Report the scam to the security staff of the firm or entity that the fake email purports to originate from. Get rid of the email: Once the suspicious mail has been reported, remove it from both your inbox and trash folder.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Kanpur Loses ₹55 Lakh in Cyber Fraud Due to Misspelled Email Address

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Kanpur lost ₹55 lakh in a cyber fraud after scammers used a fake email address with a missing letter to alter bank details and divert funds. The incident is under police investigation. The most recent victim of cyber fraud was Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Kanpur, which lost Rs 55 lakh to cyber criminals after failing to recognize the missing letter “e” in one of the email addresses. The scammers altered bank account information and redirected the payment to their account while using an email address that was almost the same as that of an authentic American supplier. Vulnerabilities in high-stakes international transactions have been revealed by cyber fraud, which is currently being investigated by police. What happened? The public-sector aerospace and defence firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited regularly purchases fighter aircraft parts from international vendors. The company was negotiating aircraft parts with PS Engineering Inc., a US-based corporation, in 2024. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited asked for a quote for three particular parts on May 3. The officialemail ID, gledbetter@ps-engineering.com. was used for all correspondence. However, unidentified cybercriminals who had probably been keeping an eye on the email exchange made the false email address jlane@ps-enginering.com, which just has the letter “e” missing from engineering. By using fake bank account information, the scammers pretended to be the vendor and persuaded Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to send the money. Before anyone realized what was going on, $63,405 (around Rs 55 lakh) was transferred into the incorrect account. When PS Engineering Inc. notified Hindustan Aeronautics Limited that they had not been paid, the fraud was discovered. When concerned HAL officials looked over their transaction history, they found the phoney email address. An official investigation was initiated after Ashok Kumar Singh, Additional General Manager of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Kanpur, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Cyber Police Station in response to the disclosure. In order to carry out the scam, investigating police believe the cybercriminals may have compromised the email systems of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or intercepted communications. To determine the source of the phoney account and find the culprits, the police have enlisted the help of cybersecurity specialists from IIT Kanpur.

WhatsApp DP ‘cloned’, Rs 50 lakh lost to fraud, Police arrest six people behind scam

WhatsApp DP ‘cloned’ are being used by cybercriminals in Kolkata to dupe businessmen, with one case involving a ₹50 lakh fraud. Police arrested six suspects and recovered over ₹24 lakh. Police added that a new trend among some of the city’s cybercriminals with ties outside the state is using phoney WhatsApp DP to defraud businessmen. Six persons, including three from the Mumbai suburb of Nallasopara, have been taken into custody on suspicion of copying a city merchant’s WhatsApp DP picture (DP) and using it to defraud the trader’s buddy out of ₹50 lakh, according to police. The retailer sells plywood under a well-known brand. A new trend among some of the city’s cybercriminals with ties outside the state is using phoney WhatsApp DP to defraud businessmen, according to police. According to the police, they have taken more than ₹24 lakh from the defendant. After a complaint was filed with the Park Street police station on March 4, an investigation was started. The last arrest was made on Pollock Street on 15 March 2025, according to the police, and the others had been made throughout the past few days. On March 1, the six-person group allegedly called a buddy of the merchant and requested him to set up ₹50 lakh after cloning his WhatsApp DP, according to the police. The caller said that he had an emergency and required the money in cash. “The gang asked the trader’s friend, who lived on Park Street, to arrange the money over the phone. The acquaintance obtained the sum from various sources and gave it to two of the six defendants who pretended to be the plywood merchant’s agents, according to a senior Park Street police station officer. The officer stated that the transaction happened on Park Street. The fraud was discovered within the following three days, and the merchant discovered that his DP had been used to defraud his friend. Following the pertinent parts of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 338 (forgery), 336 (cheating someone by modifying electronic data or papers), and 340 (passing forged electronic documents as real), a case was prepared at Park Street police station after the businessman filed a complaint. Investigators started looking into local CCTV videos. They focused on a few of the defendants. All of the city’s police stations, as well as those throughout Bengal and even outside the state, received scanned copies of their (WhatsApp DP) photos. Three men, Waqab Mohammad, 28, Riya Razi Sayed, 36, and Sachin Manohar Prasad, 32, were taken into custody on March 13 by a Kolkata Police team that had travelled to Mumbai with the assistance of their counterparts in Nallasopara, the officer said. Along with the clothing the three were wearing on the day the money was turned up, a backpack that was used to hold the cash was found. They were also found to have five pre-activated SIM cards,” he stated. The authorities discovered during questioning that the three had committed the crime by using their contacts in Calcutta. Pawan Shaw, 36, was taken into custody in Phool Bagan on March 14. Mahendra Pal Singh, 39, and Chetan Singh Dahiya, 40, were taken into custody by the police on Pollock Street in the heart of Calcutta after they confessed. “A currency counting machine and more than ₹24 lakh were found on them,” the officer stated. “The entire plot has not yet been revealed.” A central Calcutta businessman lost over ₹2 crore in a similar scam last week. He was allegedly duped by scammers into utilizing internet payments to purchase expensive cameras from them. Fake WhatsApp DP for well-known camera vendors in the nation were used by the scammers. Following an investigation by the cyber wing, Kolkata Police assisted the dealer in recovering around ₹1.6 crore.

Digital arrests, cyber crimes tripled during 2022-24, govt tells Parliament

Digital arrest scams in India tripled from 2022 to 2024, with losses soaring 21 times to Rs 19,35.51 crore. The government blocked suspicious accounts and launched awareness campaigns to curb cybercrime. The Rajya Sabha was notified on March 12, 2025, that the number of digital arrest scams and associated cybercrimes in the nation nearly tripled in the middle of 2022 and 2024, with the amount of money deceived increasing by 21 times during that time. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, answered a question by giving details about digital arrest frauds and related cybercrimes that have been reported on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) during the previous three years. 39,925 of these occurrences were recorded in 2022, with the total proceeds of the fraud amounting to Rs 91.14 crore. The overall amount of cheated money recorded on the portal increased by an astounding 21 times to Rs 19,35.51 crore in 2024, while the number of such cases nearly tripled to 1,23,672. Data shows that 17,718 incidents totalling Rs 210.21 crore in fraud were reported up to February 28 in the first two months of 2025. “Cybercrime incidents reported for digital arrest on this portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action thereon are handled by the state/UT law enforcement agencies concerned, as per the provisions of the law,” Kumar said. The Union Home Ministry’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has proactively detected and blocked around 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts that are used for digital arrest, the minister stated. In 2021, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System was introduced under I4C to prevent financial fraudsters from stealing money and to enable prompt reporting of financial frauds. “nearly 13.36 lakh complaints have resulted in savings of nearly Rs 4,386 crore to date. For assistance in filing online cyber complaints, a toll-free helpline number, 1930, has been operationalized, according to Kimar. According to the minister, I4C and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have started a caller tone campaign to increase awareness of cybercrime and promote the NCRP and helpline number 1930 to combat the threat. “The caller tune is also being played in regional languages, delivered 7-8 times a day by the telecom service providers (TSPs),” the minister said. The Central government and the TSPs have developed a method to detect and reject incoming overseas spoof calls that display Indian mobile numbers and seem to be coming from within India, Kumar said in response to a second inquiry about the matter. “TSPs have received instructions to block these inbound international fake calls. According to police officials, the Indian government has blocked 2,08,469 IMEIs and about 7.81 lakh SIM cards as of February 28, 2025,” Kumar stated. The minister responded to a follow-up question by stating that on September 10, 2024, 14C, in partnership with banks and financial organizations, established a suspect registry of cyber criminals for digital arrest. “So far, more than eight lakh suspect records and over 20 lakh mule accounts have been shared with the participating entities of the suspect registry, saving more than Rs 2,889 crore,” Kumar said.

Cyber fraud losses in India have surged nearly 10-fold in a decade: finance ministry

Losses from Cyber fraud have more than doubled in just ten years, said Pankaj Chaudhary, Minister of State in the Union Finance Ministry, who made this announcement on 10 March 2025. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Mr Chaudhary said losses due to cyber frauds would increase from ₹18.46 crore in 2014-15 to around ₹177.05 crore in 2023-24. Last year, the cost of cyber scams during the first nine months of 2025 (April-December 2024) was ₹107.21 crore. He noted that the number of cyberfrauds involving ₹1 lakh or more increased from 815 in FY15 to 29,082 in FY24. This figure was 13,384 during the first nine months of FY25. Chaudhary stated, “Incidences of fraudulent practices, including digital payment frauds, have also increased in the last few years due to the country’s growing number of digital payment transactions.” The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs estimates that over ₹1.2 trillion will be lost by Indians due to cyber fraud in the coming year. The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and the National Cybercrime Helpline Number (1930) have been established by the Union Home Ministry to assist victims of cybercrime, Chaudhary stated. According to him, the Department of Telecommunications has also launched the Digital Intelligence Platform and the “Chakshu” feature on the Sanchar Saathi website to allow people to report alleged fraudulent communications they have received through WhatsApp, SMS, or phone calls, including messages about bank account updates or KYC expiration. However, Chaudhary assigned the responsibility of preventing, detecting, investigating, and prosecuting crimes—including cybercrime—to states and union territories. “Through financial assistance and advisory services under various schemes for the capacity building of their LEAs (law enforcement agencies), the Central government complements the initiatives of the states/UTs,” he stated. By issuing alerts and advisories and conducting cybersecurity mock drills to enable evaluation of an organization’s readiness and cyber security posture, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) takes a number of steps to ensure the safe use of digital technologies and prevent cyber frauds, he continued.

Beware of Romance Scams: Protect Yourself from Online Fraud and Heartbreak

Online romance scams involve fraudsters using fake profiles to deceive victims into sending money, leading to financial and emotional harm. Stay cautious, verify profiles, and report suspicious activities to avoid falling victim. In the current digital times, where even intimate relationships can be formed online, people must accept that all that meets the eye cannot be real in an online world. Instances of a prospective life partner you meet online turning out to be a fraudster and a seemingly reliable online friend becoming an offender abound. It is therefore essential that digital users exercise care and caution as well as become aware and alert while interacting online, to save themselves from a broken heart and hole in the purse. When a fraudster uses a phoney profile to trick a victim into parting with their hard-earned money under false pretences, it’s known as an online romance scam. Dangers Trapped in fake online relations Loss of Money Blackmail Heartbreak Depression Probable causes (of online romance scams) Relying on online dating ( platforms like Tinder, bumble etc., for partners. Fake profiles on matrimonial sites A rise in the use of extramarital dating apps like Gleeden and online social meeting apps like Facebook dating Loneliness or anxiety due to isolation, especially in COVID times Potential Victims Although anyone could become a victim of this fraud (Romance Scams), the following people are frequently seen as victims: Women * Middle-aged people * Widowers People with romantic idealization (Romance Scams). People with impulsiveness and relational addiction Modus Operandi A fraudster operating with a fake profile makes contact with a potential victim (and establishes a fake relation/bond.) Before registration, make sure the dating app (Romance Scams) or matrimonial website is legitimate, and create a new email address. The fraudster convinces or makes the victims obliged to send them money online using means like gift cards, UPI payment, bank transfer, reloadable debit cards etc., on some pretext. They may seek money due to emergencies like accidents, hospitalization etc., They may ask them to invest money in bogus schemes They may convince you about good investment schemes like cryptocurrencies etc., Over time after extracting the money, they may avoid the victim completely and dump them. (Intimate pictures shared during interaction may also be used by fraudsters to extort money from victims) Warning Signs Friend requests from unknown people Expressing feelings of affection and love too soon in an online relation Being very empathetic and obliging Avoiding meeting in person Mismatch in the details shared when verified closely Seeking financial help and making requests for money/gifts on some pretext. Hypothetical Case Study In her 30s, Lata worked as a professional software developer in Hyderabad. She had registered on a popular marriage website to find a decent and attractive mate. After Rohan contacted her, Latha checked his online profile and discovered that he was a senior official at a government organization with a wealthy and well-respected family. Impressed with the profile she pursued the match with the approval of her family. After some time Rohan requested Latha to help him with some money as he was in dire need of it. Trusting him, Latha helped him out with a lot of money. It was later on when suddenly Rohan went untraceable and had switched off his mobile totally, that she identified something was wrong. After approaching the police department, she came to know that ‘Raghuveer’ alias ‘Rohan’ was a fraudster who trapped women for money and committed crimes. Safety Tips Before registration, make sure the dating app (Romance Scams) or matrimonial website is legitimate, and create a new email address. It is preferable that you do not share your details like mobile no., residential address on matrimonial sites (Romance Scams) or dating sites openly/publicly. Never share any private picture bank account or other financial details with people you have met recently. Have a thorough end-to-end background check taking ample time before you decide to proceed in relation. You can also consider taking the help of an investigation agency. Be very cautious while considering a prospective groom with an NRI profile on a matrimonial site (Romance Scams). Always personally meet the person you have known online at a public place and ask them enough questions. Never accept money requests from strangers you meet online. Do not invest in schemes etc., as per the advice received by someone you only met online; be cautious of claims/requests of exclusive investment opportunities with urgency to act fast. Always keep a neutral person informed who can gauge and assess the interaction and advise logically. Never give your bank account details, passport or identification copies, or any other private information to an unknown online person or website. Enable required privacy and security features on social media platforms and keep your information private mostly. Ensure that you do not accept friend requests by strangers at face value without proper verification. Terminate the relationship and report it if you believe it to be a scam. File a complaint about the scam at your nearest cyber crime cell and online on www.cybercrime.gov.in portal. Report or Notify the scammer on the social media site, app, or service where the scam (Romance Scams) occurred, this may help others from being victims. In case you have shared any banking-related details, follow the rules and approach the bank for necessary action. Go easy on yourself, learn the lesson and move on

Odisha Crime Branch’s Discover Rs. 87 Lakh Investment Fraud; Delhi Arrests Key Accused

The Odisha Crime Branch’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Cyber Crime Unit has successfully solved an investment fraud case, leading to the arrest of a major suspect in the Rs. 87 lakh scam. The victim, who worked for a private company, was added to the “101 Stock Discussion Group” WhatsApp group, where scammers pretended to be professors and other colleagues. By offering phoney stock trading advice, initial public offering (IPO) advice, and investment plans, they deceived the victim into making many deposits totalling about Rs. 87 lakh into different bank accounts. Mrs Vandana Bawa was captured in South Delhi by the CID Cyber Odisha Crime Unit following a comprehensive investigation that included the analysis of digital evidence and transaction data. An investigative team under the direction of Additional SP Ritesh Kumar Mohapatra made the arrest feasible. The accused would be transported to Odisha Crime on transit remand after appearing in the local court in Saket, New Delhi. The investigation team confiscated some incriminating items, such as a PAN card, an Aadhar card, an Indian SIM card, and a cell phone. After several bank accounts were closed, the complainant received a return of Rs. 10 lakh. The accused’s bank account was connected to two further cyber incidents in Gujarat and Kerala, according to an additional investigation of Odisha Crime. The CID is pursuing the money trail, other accomplices, and the crime’s trans-Indian repercussions. People are advised to exercise caution when they see unsolicited investment proposals on messaging applications and social media. To prevent being a victim of cyber scams, always confirm before investing. Report such issues to the local police station or the 1930 Cyber helpdesk. Protect Yourself Against Fraud Be wary of unsolicited messages and groups. Verify the authenticity of investment opportunities. Report suspicious activities immediately.

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