The Indian government has implemented extensive measures to combat cybercrime, including the blocking of over 781,000 SIM cards and 208,469 IMEI numbers linked to digital fraud operations as of February 2025. The figure marks a significant increase from the 669,000 SIM cards blocked in the previous year, demonstrating the escalating scale of India’s anti-fraud efforts. The initiative specifically targets “digital arrest” scams, where criminals impersonate law enforcement officials to defraud victims.
Through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), authorities have blocked 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts used in these fraudulent operations. The government has also established the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), which recently introduced a searchable database of known cyber scammers, enabling citizens to report various types of digital crimes, with particular attention to offenses against women and children.
The Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, launched in 2021, has prevented the loss of approximately Rs 4,386 crore across more than 1.336 million complaints. The system enables immediate reporting of financial frauds and helps prevent unauthorized fund transfers, supporting India’s broader initiatives to strengthen digital security infrastructure.
To address international fraud calls, the government has implemented a detection system for calls using spoofed Indian numbers. The system has proven highly effective, with recent reports indicating an 80 percent reduction in fake international calls. Telecom Service Providers have received directives to take action against such fraudulent activities, including the implementation of mandatory Aadhaar-based biometric verification for new SIM cards.
While cybercrime enforcement primarily falls under state and Union Territory jurisdiction, the central government provides support through advisories, financial assistance, and specialized training programs. Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar confirmed this arrangement in a Rajya Sabha statement, noting that cybercrime prevention and investigation remain state responsibilities under the Constitution’s Seventh Schedule.
The government has launched a nationwide caller-tune campaign in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications to raise public awareness about cyber threats. The campaign promotes the Cyber Crime Helpline Number (1930), which has expanded from seven to 25 call lines, improving its complaint handling success rate from 33 percent to 69 percent. The expansion follows the implementation of additional security measures by major telecom providers to combat phone scams.
Cyber cell officers report that scammers use organized, scripted approaches designed to exploit victims’ vulnerabilities, including age, health, and financial circumstances. Recent investigations have revealed sophisticated operations, such as the FatBoyPanel malware campaign that targeted Indian bank users through fake applications.
Sources: The 420, Economic Times, Latestly, Finance Outlook India, Latestly
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