the cyber shark

Razorpay joins MHA to enhance cybersecurity in India

has collaborated with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to enhance cybersecurity in the digital payments sector in India. This partnership focuses on equipping businesses and consumers with crucial knowledge to safeguard themselves, while also raising nationwide awareness about cybersecurity challenges. Alarmingly, 85% of reported cybercrime cases involve financial fraud, highlighting the increasing risks in online transactions. Between January and April of 2024, victims collectively lost over USD 21.2 million to such crimes. Officials from the I4C, emphasized the initiative’s significance, stating that the partnership with Razor Pay combines their technological expertise with I4C’s strategic initiatives to strengthen the digital economy in India. Strengthening digital security As part of the collaboration, Razor Pay will spearhead an extensive awareness campaign, educating businesses and consumers on essential cybersecurity topics. According to the announcement, the platform has already established connections with more than 1,600 cybercrime stations across 25 states and union territories, creating robust communication networks to combat cybercrime. It has also conducted specialized workshops to share strategies for fraud prevention and showcase its capabilities. Officials from Razor Pay highlighted India’s rapid growth in digital payments, noting that the nation has a responsibility to ensure safe digital experiences for its growing population of new digital users. Cybersecurity is integral to national progress, especially in a country like India, which accounts for 46% of global digital payment volumes. The rise in digital transactions has been accompanied by increased risks, as seen in recent data from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, which recorded over 7,000 complaints daily from January to April 2024.

India Strengthens Cybersecurity Framework to Combat Rising Cybercrimes

The Central government has strengthened its fight against cybercrime by adopting a multi-pronged framework that would strengthen the country’s response to new digital threats. December 4, 2024: The Indian government has ramped up its efforts to tackle the growing threat of cybercrime, unveiling a multi-pronged framework aimed at addressing new digital challenges and protecting citizens from a wide range of online crimes. The proactive approach was highlighted by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today. The government’s strategy includes strengthening legal measures, bolstering investigative capabilities, and enhancing public awareness. At the heart of the government’s efforts is the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a central mechanism for handling cybercrimes. Through this system, law enforcement agencies are empowered to report, investigate, and resolve cybercrime cases, including financial fraud, and crimes against women and children. One of the key innovations is the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which allows citizens to report incidents online, with a special emphasis on crimes targeting vulnerable groups. The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting System, introduced in 2021, has proven crucial in halting cyber fraud, saving over Rs 3,431 crore across nearly 10 lakh complaints. A toll-free helpline, 1930, has also been established to enable immediate reporting of financial cybercrimes. The Indian government has reinforced its legal framework to address digital threats with key legislation, including the Information Technology Act, of 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, of 2023, and the POCSO Act, of 2012. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there were 17,470 reported cases of cyber fraud in 2022 alone, including 6,491 OTP fraud cases and 2,910 online banking frauds. In response to the growing sophistication of cybercrimes, the government has made significant investments in cyber forensics. The National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Investigation) in New Delhi, along with a facility in Hyderabad, is providing state-of-the-art forensic assistance to law enforcement. Additionally, over 98,000 officers have been trained through the CyTrain portal, equipping them with specialized skills to handle cybercrimes. Cyber hygiene awareness campaigns have also been conducted nationwide, targeting government officials, youth organizations, and the general public. The government’s public awareness campaign includes mobile SMS alerts, social media outreach, and digital displays at public transport locations. Influencer collaborations and radio and newspaper campaigns have further amplified the government’s message. Additionally, measures have been taken to block international spoofed calls, which are often used in scams such as impersonation and fake arrests. As part of these efforts, more than 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 1.32 lakh IMEIs have been blocked. The Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme, a key component of the government’s cybersecurity strategy, has allocated Rs 131.6 crore to create forensic-cum-training laboratories and train over 24,600 personnel in awareness and investigation techniques. A special focus has been placed on cybercrime hubs, like Jamtara in Jharkhand and Hyderabad, where joint cyber coordination teams have been set up to enhance law enforcement collaboration.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant’s email was hacked, restored

According to an official, the Cyber Crime cell of Goa Police immediately swung into action and the CM’s personal Gmail ID was restored after four to five hours. Goa police have initiated a probe days after the personal email account of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was hacked. According to sources, the chief minister’s Gmail ID was hacked on November 19, following which a complaint was lodged with the cyber-crime cell of Goa police. The account was recovered after over five hours, police said. They said the accused hacker also changed information related to the recovery of the email account but that the account was not misused. “A probe has been initiated to track the hacker. As per the investigation so far, no data from the account has been found missing,” said a police official.

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.