The growing threat of cyber crime: System's loopholes and control challenges in India

The expansion of digital technology across the world has provided ample facilities to human society. Its progress has created new hopes and possibilities in almost every basic field including education, economy, business etc. Along with other aspects, the positive changes that digital technology has brought in the economic sector have benefited every country in the world. But, along with this, many times digital technology also becomes a cause of threat for us. A big example of this is - cyber crime.

Just as the development of technology has benefited human society, in the same way, with the help of this technology, miscreants are also creating various types of terror. Such incidents are constantly happening even in our country India, which has the largest population in the world. Cybercrime is causing the citizens of the country to be in trouble, making them completely bankrupt and facing huge losses. Many such incidents have come to light in India, but the question remains as to how much these cybercrimes have been controlled.

Cyber crime cases in India

Cyber Crime is increasing rapidly in the country. This situation is further clarified by the report of Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), an agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to the report, 12 lakh complaints related to cyber fraud were registered till November, last year, of which 45 percent of the cases were operated from countries like Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. CFCFRMS, formed in 2021, has disclosed 30.05 lakh cyber fraud cases so far, causing a loss of Rs 27,914 crore. According to the data, 1,35,242 complaints were registered in 2021, 5,14,741 in 2022 and 11,31,221 in 2023. Similarly, according to the data of the Indian Cyber Crime Co-ordination Center (I4C), till September last year, the country suffered a loss of Rs 11,333 crore due to cyber fraud. During this period, the highest number of complaints of 2,28, 094 were received in stock trading scams and a loss of Rs 4,636 crore was incurred. 1,00,360 complaints were received in investment-related cases and a scam of Rs 3,216 crore took place, 63,481 complaints of digital arrest were received and a loss of Rs 1,616 crore was incurred. A loss of Rs 120.3 crore was incurred in the first quarter of this year alone through digital arrest.

Cyber-attacks do not only include things like online fraud and sectorization. These include data theft, ransomware, online hate crime, cyberbullying, illegal betting apps, cyber-attacks on education and health services, etc., which can be used to weaken the country's economy and internal security. There is no separate law in the country against cybercrimes and efforts are being made to stop them through the provisions brought in 2022 under the amendment to the IT Act. To combat cybercrime, the Centre has set up a Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and a National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

In a recent anti-terrorism conference, I4C mentioned the challenges in investigating cyber fraud cases. In collaboration with the Telecom Ministry, it has also shut down 17,000 suspicious WhatsApp accounts operating from South-East Asian countries. During the Parliament session last August, the Home Ministry said that like other crimes, preventing cybercrime is also the state's responsibility. The truth is that to prevent cybercrime and make laws related to different areas, forming a cyber army at the central level and cyber police in the states is the need of the hour.

Challenges for cyber crime control in India

The government is taking sufficient action against cybercrime. But despite this, cybercriminals are escaping, and cybercrime continues on a large scale. The main reason behind this is some limitations of our system. Cyber Crime continues, but catching the criminals has become a challenge in the present.

It is already difficult for the police to catch cyber criminals due to the use of mobile numbers obtained on fake documents and bank accounts being used in connivance with bank officials and employees in cyber fraud.

Cyber Crime is not being curbed due to weak laws. Even if cyber robbers are caught, they get bail immediately, and as soon as they come out of jail, they make a new hideout and start committing crimes again.

According to some experts related to cyber crime, cyber fraud cases are registered under Sections 66 and 67 of the IT Act, which is a special act. Legally, no other section should be applied along with these sections, but the IT Act is a bailable and light section with a provision for getting bail from the police station.

Because of the increasing incidents of cyber crime, the government and law enforcement agencies must take concrete steps and develop effective mechanisms. Also, it is very important to make citizens aware of technical education and cyber security. The only way to protect yourself and your relatives and friends from cyber fraud is awareness and vigilance. Vigilance and awareness are our biggest shields to stay safe in the digital world. Only through collective efforts of all can an environment be created where technology is used only for the development of society and the country, and not for destruction.