December 4, 2024: In a decisive move against digital fraud, the Indian government has blocked over 59,000 WhatsApp accounts and 1,700 Skype IDs identified as tools for cybercrime, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, spearheaded this initiative as part of its intensified efforts to curb online scams.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, revealed that as of November 15, 2024, more than 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 1.32 lakh IMEI numbers flagged by police authorities have also been blocked. These measures aim to disrupt networks used for financial fraud and impersonation schemes.
Highlighting the success of the ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System,’ launched in 2021, Kumar stated that this platform has prevented fraudsters from siphoning off ₹3,431 crore across more than 9.94 lakh complaints. “I4C has proactively identified and blocked cybercriminal tools like Skype IDs and WhatsApp accounts,” the minister said.
To address cybercrimes such as spoofed international calls masquerading as domestic numbers, the government, in collaboration with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), has developed a mechanism to detect and block such calls. These spoofed calls have been linked to scams like fake arrests, impersonation of government officials, and fraudulent FedEx schemes.
Additionally, a State-of-the-Art Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) at I4C has been established. This center collaborates with major banks, financial institutions, payment aggregators, TSPs, IT intermediaries, and state law enforcement agencies to facilitate real-time action against cybercriminals.
On September 10, 2024, I4C launched a suspect registry of cybercrime identifiers in partnership with banks and financial institutions. A new feature, ‘Report and Check Suspect,’ has also been introduced on the cybercrime.gov.in portal to enhance public reporting and vigilance against cyber fraud.
These proactive steps signal the government’s commitment to combating the rise of cybercrime and safeguarding citizens in the digital era.
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