Crackdown on digital scams gains momentum

Authorities are intensifying efforts to curb the surge in online fraud across India.

The Union government has informed the Supreme Court of India about a coordinated crackdown targeting digital arrest scams.

Since January, around 9,400 fraudulent WhatsApp accounts have been removed as part of this drive.

The update came through a report submitted by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

This follows earlier court directions issued on February 9, when the bench led by Surya Kant took suo motu notice of rising cyber fraud cases.

The court had urged institutions like the Reserve Bank of India and the Department of Telecommunications to collaborate on compensation mechanisms.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp launched a focused investigation in January after concerns from multiple agencies. It adopted a structured approach to identify scam networks and block suspicious accounts.

Additionally, the platform is developing new safety features. These include detecting fake profiles using official logos and warning users about calls from newly created accounts.

It may also hide profile photos of unknown callers to limit identity misuse.

At the same time, telecom authorities are tightening controls on fraudulent SIM cards. Service providers aim to block suspicious numbers within two to three hours.

A proposed biometric verification system will further strengthen SIM tracking, with implementation targeted by December 2026.

Law enforcement agencies are also stepping in. The Central Bureau of Investigation has set a ₹10 crore loss threshold for taking up major cases.

It has already reopened three significant fraud investigations, including cases in Gujarat and Delhi.

Furthermore, the RBI has issued guidelines allowing banks to temporarily freeze doubtful transactions. This step aims to prevent rapid fund transfers linked to scams.

The government has requested the court to accelerate the rollout of these measures. The coordinated approach signals a stronger push to tackle evolving digital threats.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on May 29, 2020

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1615115