Context: Cyber-security agency Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) shared a list of ways in which online scams are being perpetrated by fraudsters in country including "digital arrest".

• As per National Crime Records Bureau (2022) report ‘Crime in India’, cases registered under Fraud for Cybercrime for 2022 were 17470.

Key Advisory 

• Do not transfer money under pressure as legitimate Law Enforcement Agencies will never pressure for sending money immediately.

• Never disclose sensitive personal or financial details over phone or video calls, especially to unknown numbers.

About Digital Arrest

• It is a new form of cybercrime where perpetrators pose as law enforcement officials, like CBI agents, income tax officers, or customs agents, and initiate contact with victims via phone calls.

• In India, citizens lost around Rs 120 crore to digital arrest frauds in first quarter of 2024.

• According to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), digital arrests have become a prevalent method of digital fraud. Many of those carrying out these frauds are based in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. 

Challenges in tackling Cybercrime

• Lack of trained and qualified manpower to implement counter measures.

• Lack of awareness and culture of cyber security, at individual as well as organizational level.

Government initiatives to tackle Cybercrime

• Indian Cyber Coordination Centre (I4C): Under MHA, it coordinates activities related to combating cybercrime in country. 

• CERT-In: It is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents.

• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: Launched as part of I4C to enable public to report incidents of cybercrimes.

• National Toll-free Helpline number 1930: Operationalized to provide citizen assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.