Government Blocks Over 1,700 Skype IDs and 59,000 WhatsApp Accounts Linked to Digital Fraud

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has identified and blocked over 1,700 Skype IDs and 59,000 WhatsApp accounts associated with digital fraud. This initiative is part of a broader effort to combat cybercrime and protect citizens from financial scams.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, informed the Lok Sabha that the ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System,’ launched in 2021, has been instrumental in promptly reporting financial frauds. This system has successfully saved over ₹3,431 crore across nearly 10 lakh complaints.

As of November 15, 2024, the government has blocked more than 669,000 SIM cards and 132,000 IMEIs as part of its ongoing efforts against digital fraud. Kumar emphasized the proactive measures taken by I4C to combat cybercrime, stating that the agency has effectively identified and blocked numerous fraudulent accounts.

To further enhance the response to cyber crimes, the central government and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have implemented measures to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls that misrepresent themselves as Indian mobile numbers. Such calls have been exploited by cybercriminals in various scams, including fake arrests and impersonation of government officials.

Kumar also announced the establishment of a Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) at I4C, where representatives from banks, financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies collaborate to ensure swift action against cyber threats.

Additionally, a suspect registry for cybercriminals was launched on September 10, 2024, in partnership with banks and financial institutions, providing citizens with a ‘Report and Check Suspect’ feature on the I4C portal (cybercrime.gov.in) to enhance public awareness and vigilance against cyber fraud.