50% of cybercrime plaints originate in China, pockets of Cambodia and Myanmar

Key Highlights

Scale of Cyber-Crime

• An average of 5,000 cyber complaints are registered daily in India.
• In 2023 alone, 15.5 lakh cyber-crime complaints were reported, a significant increase from 26,049 in 2019.

International Origins

• 40-50% of these cyber crimes originate outside India, with notable involvement from China, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
• The prevalence of Chinese apps in these activities was emphasized

elpline and Financial Impact

• Victims of financial fraud can register complaints on cybercrime.gov.in or the 1930 helpline.
• Since April 2021, ₹1127 crore has been blocked in various bank accounts, but only ₹100 crore has been returned to complainants.
• Efforts are underway to streamline the process for returning blocked funds.

Blocked SIM Cards and Websites

• Based on complaints, 2,95,461 SIM cards, 2,810 websites, 595 mobile applications, and 46,229 IMEI numbers have been blocked.
• Hotspots for SIM card fraud include West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam.

Major Cyber-Crime Trends

• Five prominent cyber-crime trends were identified in 2023, including scams related to:
  • Investment apps/websites
  • Illegal loan apps
  • Customer care number
  • OTP frauds
  • Impersonation or takeover of social media accounts, and sextortion.

Challenges and Initiatives

• The difficulty was highlighted in addressing loan app crimes and mentioned that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has whitelisted 395 instant loan apps for consumer benefit.
• The I4C has also flagged "mule accounts" to banks and fintech companies, collaborating with law enforcement to block such accounts.

Regional Distribution of Cyber Crimes

• Most cyber crimes are reported from Haryana, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Goa. Among Union Territories, Delhi tops the list, followed by Chandigarh and Puducherry.

Prelims Takeaway

• Cyber security
• RBI