Centre to disconnect over 2 crore fraudulent mobile connections, block 2.26 lakh handsets amid rising cybercrime
- In Reports
- 03:36 PM, Sep 30, 2024
- Myind Staff
In a significant move to combat cybercrime and fraudulent activities, the Union Ministry of Telecommunications has announced plans to disconnect around 2.17 crore mobile connections obtained through forged documents or involved in cybercrime. The Ministry also revealed its intent to block 2.26 lakh mobile handsets as part of its crackdown.
The data was shared by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) at a high-level inter-ministerial meeting held earlier this month by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The meeting was attended by representatives from various agencies, including the Bureau of Immigration, Financial Intelligence Unit, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and senior officials from states and Union Territories.
The Indian Express had earlier reported that in March, over 5,000 Indians were suspected to be trapped in Cambodia, forced to carry out cyber frauds. Following the revelations, the Centre had set up an inter-ministerial panel to address the issue and identify systemic loopholes. The panel found significant gaps in the banking, immigration, and telecom sectors, which contributed to the growing cybercrime threat.
According to a source within the security establishment, DoT has implemented several measures to ensure stricter Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures for SIM card procurement. "They are also disconnecting around 2.17 crore mobile connections taken on fake or forged documents or those exceeding the prescribed limit, which have been misused in cybercrime and financial fraud. Additionally, 2.26 lakh mobile handsets are being blocked," the source added.
DoT had also directed telecom operators in May to block all incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers. A source informed that the Ministry revealed in the recent meeting that 35 percent of such calls are currently being dropped, and the directive is expected to be fully implemented by December 31, 2024.
Furthermore, telecom service providers (TSPs) have been instructed to share weekly data on Indian mobile numbers using roaming facilities in Southeast Asian countries like Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Myanmar. Between April and June of this year, over 6 lakh Indian SIM cards were reported to be roaming in the region, often linked to scam operations. Additionally, over 1.4 lakh point-of-sale (PoS) agents in India are suspected of selling these SIM cards to fraudsters, prompting law enforcement across states and Union Territories to take legal action against those involved.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the MHA, has observed a significant rise in cybercrimes originating from Southeast Asia, with around 45 percent of cases targeting Indians traced back to this region. Since January 2023, nearly 1 lakh cyber complaints have been registered with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Victims of these scams are often lured with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, particularly in data entry. Upon arrival in Southeast Asia, many are reportedly stripped of their passports and forced to engage in fraudulent activities, such as creating fake social media profiles to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency and investment schemes. Many victims claimed that once people invested in these schemes, all communication would cease, or they would be "ghosted" or blocked.
This latest development underscores the Indian government’s intensified efforts to address the rising menace of cybercrime and protect citizens from falling prey to fraudulent schemes.
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