NEW DELHI, Nov 22: The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), has successfully blocked at least 17,000 WhatsApp accounts used by cybercriminals operating from South East Asia, as announced on Thursday. This move is part of an ongoing effort to disrupt offshore criminal networks and bolster India’s digital security.
The announcement was made via a post on X (formerly Twitter) by CyberDost, a cyber-safety handle maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The post stated, “I4C, in collaboration with DoT, has successfully blocked 17,000 WhatsApp accounts used by cyber criminals from South East Asia. The initiative aims to disrupt offshore criminal networks and strengthen India’s #DigitalSecurity.”
This action comes in the wake of a sharp rise in transnational organized cybercrime originating from Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and the Philippines. In response to the increasing threat, the Ministry of Home Affairs established an inter-ministerial committee in May 2024. According to recent reports, around 45% of cyber-financial frauds in India are linked to Southeast Asia. These crimes have grown more sophisticated and are causing significant financial losses for victims.
The I4C’s investigation revealed that cybercriminals have been using tactics such as fraudulent investment opportunities, fake games, dating apps, and trading platforms to trick people into handing over money. The cybercriminal networks involved are said to be increasingly complex and difficult to track.
In addition, the I4C has reported incidents where Indian teenagers and young adults were deceived into traveling to Cambodia under the false pretense of finding work, only to be coerced into participating in cybercrimes. Several Indian nationals, who were protesting in a Cambodian city, were arrested, and efforts were made to bring them back home safely.
The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre was established in October 2018 to enhance the country’s capacity to deal with cybercrimes and improve coordination among law enforcement agencies. The initiative aims to strengthen the overall infrastructure for combating cybercrime and improving citizen satisfaction with the digital safety measures in place.
