The MHA's 2023-24 annual report revealed that cyber fraudsters frequently leverage Google services to orchestrate scams.
New Delhi, January 1, 2024: WhatsApp has emerged as the most misused social media platform for cybercrimes, followed by Telegram and Instagram, according to the Union Home Ministry's (MHA) latest report.
In the first quarter of 2024 alone, authorities received 43,797 complaints linked to cyber frauds conducted through WhatsApp. Telegram accounted for 22,680 complaints, while Instagram recorded 19,800 complaints, highlighting the growing exploitation of social media by cyber criminals.
The MHA's 2023-24 annual report revealed that cyber fraudsters frequently leverage Google services to orchestrate scams. Google's advertisement platform, offering targeted advertising across borders, has been identified as a tool aiding these schemes.
One such scam, termed the "Pig Butchering Scam" or "Investment Scam," is a global menace. It involves large-scale money laundering and even cyber slavery, preying on vulnerable individuals such as unemployed youth, housewives, students, and those in financial distress. Victims often lose substantial amounts of money, including borrowed funds.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has partnered with tech giants like Google and Facebook to counter these threats. These collaborations include proactive measures such as flagging fraudulent digital lending apps, misuse of Google's Firebase domains, and Android banking malware.
The report also noted that organized cybercriminals heavily rely on sponsored Facebook ads to promote illegal lending apps in India. I4C has been working closely with Facebook to identify and address such threats by flagging malicious links and pages for action.
To strengthen the fight against cybercrime, I4C is actively engaged in capacity building across the criminal justice system. Law enforcement agencies, forensic examiners, prosecutors, and judges are being trained in cyber security, cybercrime investigation, and digital forensics at institutions nationwide.
