In a significant move to combat cyber fraud, the Ministry of Home Affairs has implemented several initiatives aimed at enhancing cybercrime prevention and investigation mechanisms across the country. While ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the Central Government is playing a crucial role in supplementing state efforts through advisories and financial aid for capacity building of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
To ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach, the Central Government has undertaken steps to spread cybercrime awareness, issue alerts and advisories, and provide capacity building and training for law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and judicial officers. Enhancements in cyber forensic facilities are also a key focus.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), established as an attached office, is tasked with managing all types of cyber crimes nationwide. Integral to this initiative is the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in), which allows the public to report various cyber crimes, particularly those against women and children. Incidents reported on this portal are processed by State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies in accordance with legal provisions.
Launched in 2021, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System under I4C facilitates the immediate reporting of financial frauds, aiding in the prevention of fund siphoning by fraudsters. To date, over Rs. 2400 crore has been saved from more than 7.6 lakh complaints. The toll-free helpline number ‘1930’ has been established to assist in lodging online cyber complaints.
The Central Government has also launched the Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in) to empower mobile subscribers, enhance their security, and raise awareness about government initiatives. This portal enables citizens to report suspected fraud communications, verify mobile connections issued in their name, and report stolen or lost mobile handsets for blocking and tracing.
Moreover, the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) has been introduced for sharing telecom misuse-related information and lists of disconnected numbers with stakeholders to prevent cyber-crime and financial frauds. The government has developed a system to detect fraudulent mobile connections obtained with fake documents and directs Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to undertake re-verification.
