Jaipur, March 22 (NationPress) Rajasthan's Minister of State for Home Affairs Jawahar Singh Bedham reiterated the state's commitment to fighting cybercrime, outlining various initiatives executed by the government.

In an interview with IANS, Bedham disclosed that cybercriminals are under rigorous governmental oversight, with statistics indicating increased enforcement. Through the Cyber Crime Portal, officials have successfully frozen ₹107.06 crore in 2024 and ₹39.29 crore in 2023 from accounts associated with alleged offenders.

Bedham also pointed out the growing efficiency of the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 in tackling public grievances. "Since October 15, 2024, the helpline has expanded its capacity from seven to 25 lines, escalating the success rate in dealing with complaints from 33 percent to 69 percent," he stated to IANS.

Referring to data presented in the Vidhan Sabha, Bedham noted that since the inception of the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) on April 1, 2021, authorities have blocked 252,046 fraudulent SIM cards and 234,243 mobile IMEI devices to combat cyber fraud. In contrast, only 1,457 SIM cards and 127 IMEI numbers were blocked in 2021. By 2024, these numbers escalated to 46,494 SIM cards and 16,739 IMEI numbers due to enhanced enforcement activities.

Bedham warned that cybercriminals are utilizing advanced tactics to ensnare victims. During wedding seasons, scammers distribute malicious links disguised as digital invites. Clicking these links can lead to the extraction of personal information, jeopardizing the victim's privacy. Furthermore, criminals may send counterfeit bank account details to enable money laundering, often deceiving individuals into unwittingly participating in fraudulent schemes.

Another common tactic involves fraudsters posing as bank officials or mobile service providers under the pretense of requiring KYC updates. These approaches allow them to access sensitive information.

To combat these threats, the Rajasthan Police Headquarters routinely issues public advisories, alerting citizens about emerging cybercrime tactics and advocating preventive strategies, he explained.

In January 2024, under the 'Cyber Vraj Prahar 1.0' campaign, the Rajasthan Police initiated a statewide offensive against cybercrime. This operation resulted in the registration of 36 cases and the apprehension of 250 individuals. Law enforcement confiscated 152 mobile phones, 104 ATM cards, 89 SIM cards, 10 checkbooks, 40 bank passbooks, one motorcycle, one car, six laptops, and around ₹490,000 from those involved in cybercriminal activities.

"Our pledge to combat cybercrime remains steadfast, and we will persist in adopting proactive measures to protect the public," Bedham asserted.