'Rs 2,400 Crore Saved from Cyber Fraudsters': MoS IT Highlights Safety Measures, Awareness Campaigns In Parliament

The ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’ has helped save at least Rs 2,400 crore from fraudsters, Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, told Parliament.

The response stated that this initiative has effectively handled more than 7.6 lakh complaints, showcasing a robust response mechanism to financial cyber frauds.

Amid growing concerns over the increasing incidents of cyber fraud, KC Venugopal recently posed a series of questions to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in Parliament. The queries aimed to uncover the extent of the problem, government measures and the effectiveness of current mechanisms to combat cyber fraud.

Government Initiatives

Prasada, in his detailed response, shed light on the government’s efforts to mitigate fraud risks:

• Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting System: This system, along with a toll-free helpline number ‘1930’, allows for immediate reporting and assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.
• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (14C): Established under the Ministry of Home Affairs, it provides a comprehensive framework for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to address cyber crimes cohesively.
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: This portal enables the public to report all types of cyber crimes, with a special focus on financial fraud. Incidents reported are automatically routed to the respective State/UT LEAs for further action.

Enhancing Awareness and Capacity Building

The government has implemented several measures to raise awareness and build capacity among organisations and users for safe digital practices:

• CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team): CERT-In issues alerts and advisories regarding the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities. It coordinates with service providers, regulators, and LEAs to track and disable phishing websites, facilitate investigations and ensures the implementation of best security practices.
• Cyber Safety Campaigns: The Ministry of Home Affairs has conducted numerous awareness campaigns through social media platforms, radio, and collaboration with MyGov for widespread publicity. Initiatives include the publication of handbooks for adolescents and students and organizing Cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks in various states and UTs.
• Cybersecurity Training and Workshops: CERT-In conducts extensive training programmes for officials across government and private sectors. In 2024, until June, nine specialised cybersecurity training sessions were conducted, covering 4,166 participants.

According to the response, the government has established collaborations with law enforcement agencies and private sector entities to combat cyber frauds. CERT-In, in coordination with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has launched campaigns to raise awareness about financial fraud. Additionally, cybersecurity mock drills are conducted to assess and improve the cyber readiness of organizations.

The ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’ has played a pivotal role in preventing financial losses and providing immediate support to victims. The system’s success is further bolstered by continuous efforts to spread awareness, enhance cyber forensic facilities and improve the overall cybersecurity infrastructure, said the response.