DoT has created an online secure Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for the exchange of information pertaining to abuse of telecom resources among the stakeholders for cybercrime prevention and financial frauds. Around 620 organisations have been onboarded on DIP, including central security agencies, State/UT Police, I4C, Goods & Service Tax Network (GSTN), Banks, TSPs, etc.
MHA’s role in cybercrime governance
Cybercrime matters are brought under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) according to business rules allocation. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) makes efforts in preventing telecom resource misuse for cyber frauds.
Moreover, ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are subjects of the State according to the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. MHA has set up the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (14C) as an attached office to act as a framework and eco-system for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to address cyber-crimes.
MHA has also started the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal- NCRP (https://cybercrime.gov.in) in order to facilitate public reporting of all types of cybercrimes.
19 lakh complaints, Rs 22,812 crore loss: I4C reports on cybercrime
According to I4C, total complaints on NCRP and loss incurred were Rs 19.18 lakh and Rs 22,811.95 crore, respectively, in 2024. In addition, DoT and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have come up with a mechanism to detect and block incoming international spoofed calls showing Indian mobile numbers.
Such calls are appearing to be from within India but were actually originating from the cyber-criminals outside by spoofing the Calling Line Identity (CLI). Also, to counter SIM taking by using spurious documents, DoT has developed an indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data Analytics tool ASTR to detect SIMs obtained by the same individual in various names.
DoT’s awareness initiatives: Educating people on telecom safety
DoT makes a constant effort to connect with people to educate them regarding telecom-related frauds and to remain informed about the newest telecom safety precautions.
Attempts have also been made to promote the utilisation of the Sanchar Saathi App/portal, a people-oriented initiative of DoT for complaining about suspected fraud calls.
Interaction with citizens and creating awareness have also been attempted through state-specific orientation & sharing of content in local language, social media campaigns, periodic press releases, SMS campaigns and partnering with various stakeholders such as Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs)/Banks/ Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), etc.
In addition, under the Sanchar Mitra volunteer initiative of DoT, student volunteers from several universities are proactively interacting with citizens to enlighten them on digital safety, fraud avoidance, and Sanchar Saathi.
They are carrying out awareness drives, workshops, and on-ground interactions with the public to ensure their mobile connectivity and to register fraud.
Measures taken by DoT include the following:
- DoT has created an online secure Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) to share information pertaining to misuse of telecom resources among the stakeholders to prevent cybercrime and financial frauds.
- Around 620 organisations have been onboarded on DIP, such as central security agencies, State/UT Police, I4C, Goods & Service Tax Network (GSTN), Banks, TSPs, etc.
- DoT has created the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), which is a risk-based indicator that categorises a mobile number to have been linked with Medium, High, or Very High risk of financial fraud.
- FRI empowers stakeholders-particularly banks, NBFCs, and UPI service providers, to give priority enforcement and take further customer protection action in case a mobile number is of high risk.
