Cyber Frauds in India
Context:
Cybersecurity incidents in India surged from 10.29 lakh in 2022 to 22.68 lakh in 2024.
As of February 28, 2025, cyber frauds amounting to ₹36.45 lakh have been reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP)
The Union Budget for 2025-2026 has allocated ₹782 crore for cybersecurity projects.
Types of Cyber Threats
Spoofing: Criminals impersonating trusted sources.
Deepfakes and AI: Using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake videos or audio for scams.
Phishing: Luring individuals into revealing sensitive information through deceptive emails or messages.
UPI Frauds: Fraudsters targeting the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) using compromised mobile numbers
India's Cybersecurity Legal Framework
Information Technology Act, 2000:
The primary law addresses cyber offenses like identity theft, impersonation, and cheating.
It empowers authorities to block malicious websites
IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021:
It holds social media intermediaries and digital platforms accountable for removing unlawful content
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023:
The act mandates that personal data be handled lawfully with user consent and places strict security obligations on data fiduciaries.
Key National Agencies:
CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team):
The national agency for responding to cybersecurity incidents, monitoring threats, and issuing advisories.
NCIIPC (National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre):
The nodal agency for protecting critical information infrastructure in sectors like banking, telecom, and power.
I4C (Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre):
It is established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to help Law Enforcement Agencies deal with cybercrime in a coordinated manner through training and information sharing.
Government Initiatives and Platforms
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP):
An online portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) for citizens to report cybercrimes, especially those against women and children.
Helpline 1930:
A dedicated helpline for immediate assistance to victims of online financial fraud.
Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS):
A system that has helped financial institutions save over ₹5,489 crore from fraudulent transactions.
Joint Cyber Coordination Teams (JCCTs):
Seven teams have been set up under I4C to monitor geographical hotspots of cybercrime like Mewat, Jamtara, and Ahmedabad.
Samanvaya Platform:
An analytics platform that helps in tracing interstate linkages of criminals.
This led to the arrest of 12,987 accused individuals.
Cyber Crime Prevention Against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme:
A scheme that has established cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories in 33 States and UTs.
Bharat National Cybersecurity Exercise 2025:
An exercise conducted to strengthen India's cyber resilience, involving over 600 participants.