- Home Ministry Takes Stern Action Against Cyber Fraud
- Investigation Reveals 45,000 SIM Cards Sent to Cambodia
and Myanmar
- Cyber Wing Identifies Southeast Asian Nations as
Scamming Hubs
New Delhi: The rising incidents of digital fraud and "digital
arrests" have created significant alarm across the country. In response,
the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken decisive action to tackle these
issues. Under the direction of the MHA’s I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination
Centre) wing, 17,000 WhatsApp accounts have been blocked. Most of these
accounts were found to be active in Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.
Sources revealed that this action
was prompted by online complaints registered by individuals who flagged
suspicious activity. The I4C wing led the crackdown on these numbers.
Key
Findings of the Investigation:
- Fraudsters involved in "digital arrests" were
traced to Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam through their IPDRs (Internet
Protocol Detail Records).
- Funds obtained from such scams were withdrawn using
ATMs in Dubai and Vietnam.
- Cybercriminals in these countries procured Indian SIM
cards with the help of local agents. Approximately 45,000 Indian SIM cards
were sent to Cambodia and Myanmar, which were later deactivated by Indian
agencies.
Southeast
Asia Identified as a Scam Hub:
The MHA’s cyber wing had earlier
flagged Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand as major hubs for
digital fraud schemes. In response, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia issued an
advisory for job seekers, warning against false promises of lucrative
employment opportunities.
The advisory noted that many Indian
citizens were lured into human trafficking traps in Cambodia, where they were
forced to participate in online scams and other illegal activities.
A
Disturbing Trend:
The investigation uncovered a
troubling pattern where Indian SIM cards were used by cybercriminals abroad to
scam Indian citizens. This led to substantial financial losses for Indians,
with the stolen money funneled out of the country.
The MHA’s crackdown highlights a
broader effort to curb these scams and protect citizens from falling prey to
such fraudulent activities.
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