In a significant move to combat the rising threat of cybercrime, the Central Government has implemented a comprehensive strategy through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). This initiative aims to strengthen the mechanism for dealing with cybercrimes, including the prevalent digital arrest scams, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
Key Actions by the Central Government:
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): Established as an attached office of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the I4C serves as the central hub for coordinating cybercrime prevention and investigation efforts across the country.
- Blocking Spoofed Calls: A system has been devised to identify and block international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers. These calls, often used by cybercriminals in fake digital arrests and impersonation scams, will be blocked by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
- Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC): This state-of-the-art center brings together representatives from banks, financial institutions, payment aggregators, TSPs, IT intermediaries, and State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to facilitate swift action and collaboration against cybercrime.
- Action Against SIM Cards and IMEIs: Over 6.69 lakh SIM cards and 1,32,000 IMEIs linked to cybercrime activities have been blocked by the Government of India based on reports from Police authorities.
- Samanvaya Platform: Launched in April 2022, this platform acts as a Management Information System (MIS) for LEAs, enabling cybercrime data sharing, analysis, and interstate coordination. Features like “Pratibimb” map locations of criminals and crime infrastructure, aiding jurisdictional officers.
- Suspect Registry and Public Reporting: A Suspect Registry of cybercriminals’ identifiers has been launched in collaboration with Banks/Financial Institutions. Citizens can also search for suspects through the “Report and Check Suspect” feature on https://cybercrime.gov.in.
- Proactive Identification and Blocking: I4C proactively identifies and blocks fake IDs used for digital arrests.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: The Government has issued press releases and disseminated messages through various channels like SMS, social media, radio, MyGov platform, and public displays to educate citizens about cybercrime threats, including digital arrest scams.
- Cybersecurity Training: I4C has conducted training programs for officials from various Ministries/Departments and NCC cadets to enhance cyber hygiene awareness.
Financial Fraud Prevention:
- Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System: Launched in 2021, this system allows immediate reporting of financial frauds, potentially saving over Rs. 3431 Crore in more than 9.94 lakh complaints.
- Toll-free Helpline: A dedicated helpline number “1930” has been established to assist citizens with lodging online cyber complaints.
This multi-pronged approach demonstrates the Central Government’s strong commitment to tackling cybercrime and protecting Indian citizens online. The collaborative efforts with State/UT LEAs, financial institutions, and public awareness initiatives are crucial steps towards creating a safer digital environment.
