Thursday, May 22, 2025

Surge in Cybercrime

unrecognizable hacker with smartphone typing on laptop at desk
Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

Between January and April 2024, Indian citizens lost over Rs 1,750 crore due to cybercriminal activities. This was reported through more than 740,000 complaints lodged on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) revealed that in May 2024, an average of 7,000 cybercrime complaints were recorded daily. This marked an increase of 113.7 percent compared to the period between 2021 and 2023, and a 60.9 percent increase from 2022 to 2023. Most victims fell prey to online investment fraud, gaming apps, algorithm manipulations, illegal lending apps, sextortion, and OTP scams.  In 2023, the I4C reported over 100,000 investment fraud incidents. During the first four months of 2024, digital arrests resulted in a loss of Rs 120 crore across 4,599 cases. Trading scams accounted for 20,043 cases, leading to a loss of Rs 1,420 crore to cybercriminals during the same period. Online fraud cases in Jammu and Kashmir too have raised concerns among law enforcement agencies and the general public. Despite efforts to combat these scams, fraudsters continue to devise new methods to deceive unsuspecting victims. To address this growing issue, the police are disseminating regular advisories through social media and public service announcements. These advisories provide crucial information on how to recognize and avoid potential scams, emphasizing the importance of verifying the authenticity of unsolicited messages and offers. However, many individuals have still fallen prey to these fraudulent schemes. Victims have reported receiving emails and messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks and government agencies, asking for personal information or payment. These scams are often so convincing that even cautious individuals have been caught off guard. Fortunately, some victims have narrowly escaped falling prey to these scams, thanks to the intervention of friends or family members who recognized the fraudulent activity. Law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to catch these scammers, with cybercrime units working around the clock to trace and apprehend them. The police are also encouraging victims and the general public to report any suspicious activity immediately, stressing that timely reporting can make a significant difference in preventing further victims. Cybersecurity experts echo the police’s advice, stressing the importance of awareness and caution. They advise individuals to be vigilant about their online activities, never sharing personal or financial information unless they are absolutely sure of the recipient’s identity. They also recommend double-checking URLs and email addresses for any discrepancies. To protect themselves from these pervasive scams, individuals can follow police advisories and practice cautious online behavior. This includes verifying the source of unsolicited messages or requests, reporting suspicious activity to the local cyber police unit, and staying informed about the latest scams and how to avoid them. While the efforts of law enforcement and cybersecurity experts are commendable, there needs to be a broader societal effort to address this issue. This includes better public education on digital literacy and stricter regulations on online platforms to prevent fraud.