In a crackdown on digital arrest frauds, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has blocked over 17,000 WhatsApp accounts. According to sources, most of these accounts were traced to countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, where they were allegedly being used for cyber fraud.
This action, taken by the Home Ministry’s cybercrime coordination centre, is based on complaints filed by victims through online platforms. The Home Ministry reviewed the complaints, flagged suspicious accounts, and directed WhatsApp to block these numbers.
The development comes after an investigation by India Today exposed fraudulent call centres operating out of Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. The fraudsters mostly operate from call centres situated in Chinese casinos in Cambodia.
The investigation has also revealed how human traffickers are luring Indian citizens to Cambodia with the promise of jobs, and then they are forced to carry out online financial scams and cyber crimes.
‘Digital arrest’ involves fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officials to deceive gullible people and pressuring them to transfer large sums of money. The scammers, posing as CBI agents, income tax officers, or customs agents, intimidate the victims by falsely accusing them of illegal activities.
Recently, Prime Minister Modi also issued a warning to the public regarding this scam, urging them to report any such incidents to the cyber helpline.
Sources in the Home Ministry’s cyber wing said scammers were siphoning off around Rs 6 crore every day through digital arrest frauds. In the first 10 months of this year alone, scammers have siphoned off Rs 2,140 crore. Till October, the cyber wing has reported 92,334 cases related to digital arrest frauds.