GS Paper II & III
News Excerpt:
Due to the rapid surge in digital arrest, the central government collaborated with Microsoft to block 1,000 skype IDs involved in online blackmailing, extortion, and intimidation.
What is digital arrest:
- In the world of cybercrime, a new crime with the name of ‘digital arrest’ is rapidly increasing.
- The fraudsters deceive the potential individuals by pretending to be the government officials and law enforcement authorities.
- They accuse their target for the malicious involvement in illegal activities which could lead to serious legal consequences and prosecution.
- They demand a huge sum of money to resolve the issues and direct the victim to be quarantined unless resolved, which is known as digital arrest.
Modus Operandi of digital arrest:
- The Ministry of Home Affairs has outlined common ways entertained by the criminals to deceive individuals:
- Initial Contact: Fraudsters initiate contact by phone, alleging involvement in illegal activities like trafficking drugs or fake passports.
- Threats: They may claim that a family member has been detained due to criminal activities or an accident, instilling fear in the victim.
- Monetary Demands: To avoid repercussions, victims are coerced into paying a large sum of money to the fraudsters.
- Digital Arrests: In some instances, victims are coerced into staying on video calls via platforms such as Skype until they comply with demands. The criminals create fake settings resembling police stations and wear uniforms to appear authentic.
Status of digital arrest:
- A large number of complaints have been made on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) about intimidation, blackmail, extortion, and digital arrests by cybercriminals posing as police officers, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Enforcement Directorate (ED), etc.
- According to the Intelligence Agencies, these incidents are a part of an online organized economic crime racket which is run by cross-border crime syndicates.
Government steps to curb it:
- Ministry of Home Affairs: Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) has blocked more than 1,000 skype IDs by collaborating with Microsoft.
- Ministry of Communication: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued advisories to alert citizens about fake calls threatening disconnection and has implemented various measures to combat suspected fraudulent communications:
- CHAKSHU: As part of the Sanchar Saathi initiative, 52 entities sending malicious and phishing SMSs have been blacklisted.
- SMS and Handset Blocks: Nationwide deactivation of 700 SMS templates and blacklisting of 348 mobile handsets have been carried out.
- Re-verification and Disconnections: Out of 10,834 flagged mobile numbers for re-verification, 8,272 were disconnected due to failed re-verification as of April 30, 2024.
- Handset Blocks: Nationwide blocking of 8.6 million mobile handsets has been enforced due to involvement in cybercrime and financial fraud.
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Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C):
Objectives of I4C:
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Way forward:
- Stay vigilant and report any suspicious calls or threats to the cybercrime helpline number 1930.
- Immediate reporting and awareness are crucial in combating cybercrimes effectively.
- Given the dynamic nature of cybercriminal tactics, both authorities and the public must adopt a proactive approach.
- Collaboration among government agencies, technology companies, and law enforcement is essential in addressing the cybercrime threat.
