Synopsis
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has blocked over 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts linked to Digital Arrest scams, enhancing efforts to combat cybercrime. Initiatives include a caller tune campaign and the implementation of a financial fraud reporting system.Key Takeaways
- The I4C has blocked 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts.
- A caller tune campaign is in effect to raise cybercrime awareness.
- Over 7.81 lakh SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs have been blocked.
- Rs. 4,386 crore has been saved from financial frauds reported.
- AI is being utilized to identify mule accounts.
New Delhi, March 12 (NationPress) The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has actively detected and blocked over 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts involved in Digital Arrest scams to date, as reported to Parliament on Wednesday.
The I4C, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has collaborated with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to initiate a caller tune campaign aimed at enhancing awareness about cybercrime and promoting the Cyber Crime Helpline Number 1930 along with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
This caller tune is broadcasted in various regional languages, airing 7-8 times daily by telecom service providers (TSPs).
The government, in conjunction with TSPs, has also established a mechanism to detect and block incoming international spoofed calls that disguise Indian mobile numbers, making them seem to originate within the country.
As of February 28, over 7.81 lakh SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs have been blocked as reported by police authorities, according to Bandi Sanjay Kumar, MoS in the Ministry of Home Affairs, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Instructions have been given to TSPs for the blocking of such incoming international spoofed calls.
The Central government has also rolled out an extensive awareness initiative on digital arrest scams.
Launched in 2021, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System under I4C aims for the prompt reporting of financial frauds to prevent fraudsters from siphoning off funds.
To date, over Rs. 4,386 crore has been saved from more than 13.36 lakh complaints.
Efforts are currently being made to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) for identifying mule accounts, with over 19 lakh such accounts detected and transactions worth Rs 2,038 crore thwarted in the ongoing battle against cybercrime, as stated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah last month.
A mule account refers to a bank account exploited by criminals to transfer stolen funds, and the individual who holds the account is termed a money mule.
