In a major crackdown on cybercrime and financial fraud, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Telecom (DoT), and State Police have launched a joint drive to curb the misuse of telecom resources as the DoT issued directions to telecom service providers for blocking 28200 mobile phones and 20 lakh mobile connections.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and State Police have joined hands to curb the misuse of telecom resources in cybercrime and financial fraud.
This collaborative effort aims to dismantle networks of fraudsters and protect citizens from digital threats, an official statement stated.
Analysis carried out by MHA and the State Police has revealed that 28,200 mobile handsets were misused in cybercrimes. The DoT further analyzed and found that a staggering 20 lakh numbers were used with these mobile handsets.
Subsequently, DoT issued directions to telecom service providers for pan India blocking of 28,200 mobile handsets and to carryout immediate re-verification of 20 lakh mobile connections linked to these mobile handsets and disconnect failing re-verification.
The unified approach demonstrates a shared commitment to public safety, safeguarding the integrity of telecommunications infrastructure, and ensuring a secure digital environment.
About Cyber Crime
— Cybercrime Definition: Any unlawful act where a computer or communication device or computer network is used to commit or facilitate the commission of crime.
— For example, Hacking, identity theft, fraud, and Cyberstalking.
— Cybercrimes comes as a State subject as per the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Increasing Cyber Crimes in India: Major Reasons
— Financial gain: Through stealing financial information, such as credit card numbers and bank accounts, or through demanding ransom in exchange for stolen data or resources.
— For example, Unified Payment Interface (UPI) frauds are the most prevalent online financial frauds reported between January 2020 and June 2023, according to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) report by IIT-Kanpur.
— Espionage: Some cybercriminals engage in cyber crime to steal confidential or proprietary information for competitive advantage or to damage the reputation of an organization.
— Political or ideological motives: Some cybercriminals target organizations or individuals for political or ideological reasons, such as to promote a particular cause or to advance a particular agenda.
— For example, the Cambridge Analytica scandal (2018) under which the Facebook database was leaked with data of 419 million users including the data of many Indian users.
— Personal motives: Some cybercriminals engage in cybercrime to harass, defame, or harm individuals or organizations.
— Opportunism: Some cybercriminals engage in cybercrime simply because they can, taking advantage of security vulnerabilities in technology or in people to steal information or resources.
— For Example: In June 2023, tech giant Microsoft experienced temporary disruptions to its Outlook and Azure computing services after an attack by a cybercrime group called Anonymous Sudan.
Cyber Crimes in India: Challenges
— Rapid Technological Advancements: The rapid adoption of technology in India has led to an increased attack surface for cybercriminals. As new technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), cloud computing, etc. become more prevalent, the attack vectors for cybercriminals also expand.
— For instance, Deep Fake and AI-generated voice is a rising challenge as it has become easy to create and superimpose faces and voices.
— Sophisticated Cyber Attacks: Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using advanced techniques such as ransomware, zero-day exploits, and social engineering to target individuals and organizations.
— A zero-day exploit is a cyberattack technique that takes advantage of an unknown security flaw in computer software, hardware or firmware.
— Cyber Warfare and State-sponsored Attacks: India faces the threat of cyber espionage and state-sponsored cyber attacks increasing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and sensitive government information.
— For instance, the Malware(Dtrack) attack on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in 2019. It is believed that this malware has been created by a group called Lazarus with links to North Korea.
— Lack of Cybersecurity Awareness: Many individuals and businesses in India may not be fully aware of the risks and preventive measures associated with cybersecurity which makes them more susceptible to falling victim to cybercrimes.
— Inadequate Legal Framework: Although India has made efforts to establish legal frameworks to address cybercrimes, there may still be gaps and challenges in effectively enforcing these laws.
NCRB Data on Cyber Crimes in India
— According to the report ‘Crime in India’, 65,893 cases were registered under cybercrime, showing an increase compared to 52,974 cases in 2021.
— Over 24,000 complaints were registered with the Delhi Police till June 2023. During the same period in 2022, the cops had received 7,500 complaints.
— Preliminary probe data showed that most frauds originated in Mewat (Haryana) and Jamtara (Jharkhand).
— More than 80,000 complaints have been received from West Bengal in 2023 till November end in the national cybercrime reporting portal.
Conclusion:
The growing trend of cyber crimes in India demands a comprehensive approach, including advanced cybersecurity measures, international cooperation, public awareness, and the effective implementation of legal frameworks to ensure a secure digital environment for individuals and organizations.
