Delhi- As cyber threats evolve and become increasingly sophisticated, the Central Government has taken some important measures to tackle crimes such as digital arrest scams and other forms of cyber fraud.
With timely action by authorities, an amount of Rs 3,431 crore has been saved in over 9.94 lakh reports of digital arrests and other types of cyber frauds.
As of November 15, police officials said, the Government of India has blocked over 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 132,000 IMEIs as fraudsters use these SIM cards to commit digital fraud.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar told Rajya Sabha that, “To promptly report financial frauds and prevent misappropriation of funds by fraudsters, ‘Financial Management and Reporting System’ was launched in 2021. citizen financial cyber fraud under I4C. . “So far, a financial amount of over Rs 3,431 crore has been saved in over 9.94 lakh complaints.”
The government’s main initiative to tackle cyber fraud
“A toll-free helpline ‘1930’ has been launched for assistance in filing cyber complaints online,” the minister said. The minister said digital arrest scams, in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement agencies such as police, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), are have become a serious concern. These scams often involve threats of arrest or legal action, forcing victims to pay or share sensitive information. These scams, which exploit technology to impersonate officials and defraud unsuspecting citizens, have sparked concern across the country. In a coordinated response, the government has implemented a series of measures focused on prevention, detection, investigation and public awareness.
The minister said that as per the Constitution of India, “police” and “public order” fall under the jurisdiction of states and union territories (UTs). This makes them primarily responsible for tackling cybercrime, including prevention, investigation and prosecution.
However, recognizing the borderless nature of cybercrime, the Central Government has played an active role in complementing state efforts. Through advice, financial assistance and cutting-edge technological initiatives, the Center has strengthened the national response to these crimes.
Sharing details about the measures taken by the government to investigate cases of digital arrest, the minister said that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) was created in this regard.
I4C, set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, acts as a central coordinating agency to address all forms of cybercrime. This state-of-the-art center ensures a comprehensive and coordinated approach, facilitating rapid action against scams such as digital arrests, identity theft and financial fraud.
