Title: Work-From-Home and Part-Time Job Scams Lead Cybercrime Reports in India, Says Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre
In a revealing update, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighted that Work-From-Home (WFH) and part-time job scams have surged to become the most prevalent cybercrimes reported in the country during the year 2023. This concerning trend was disclosed by Rajesh Kumar, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of I4C, during the Annual Press Conference held at the media center on Wednesday.
According to Mr. Kumar, scamsters primarily target victims through digital advertisements, online messenger channels, and bulk SMS. The modus operandi involves luring individuals with false promises of lucrative work opportunities, ultimately leading to financial fraud.
“We request people to avoid getting into such scams. We keep banning and tapping such fraudsters whenever it gets reported,” Mr. Kumar emphasized, urging the public to exercise caution and stay vigilant against falling victim to such deceptive schemes.
The second major cyber threat identified by the I4C is illegal lending apps, which are frequently employed by scamsters to exploit unsuspecting individuals. These apps often operate in countries like China, Cambodia, Myanmar, and others. The Indian government actively collaborates with international counterparts, reporting cybercriminal activities to curb the proliferation of such apps.
Mr. Kumar revealed, “We have blocked 595 apps that were involved in suspicious activities. We have also whitelisted 395 instant loan apps by RBI. Reporting of suspicious apps to Google and Facebook. Flagging of mule accounts to Banks and Fintech. Publishing of suspicious apps on Cyber Dost social media handles.”
The third significant source of cyber fraud identified is the exploitation of Customer Care Numbers and Android malware. Scammers use fake customer care numbers or install Android malware to pilfer sensitive credentials, such as OTPs (One-Time Passwords).
Impersonation and sextortion were highlighted as additional methods employed by cybercriminals. “WFH is the biggest fraud reported to agencies, while sextortion largely operates from Mewat. It is underreported as victims avoid complaining due to various reasons. This year around 19,000 cases of sextortion were reported,” Mr. Kumar informed, underscoring the challenges in addressing these sensitive and often unreported cybercrimes. The I4C continues its efforts to combat these evolving threats and encourages the public to stay informed and cautious in the digital space.
Users Today : 0
Users Yesterday : 5