Indians lose ₹120 crore in digital arrest scams; 46% of digital fraudsters in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia

Indians lost ₹120.3 crore from digital detention scams in the first quarter of this year alone, according to Indian Express report He cited data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MHA).

This issue was even highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 115th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

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According to the report, 46% of such digital fraud cases reported during this period, including digital arrests, trading scams, investment scams (duty-based) and romance/dating scams, involved scammers based in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. cumulative amount ₹1,776 crore.

Victims disappeared ₹1,420.48 crore in trade fraud, ₹222.58 crore in investment fraud and ₹13.23 crore in love/dating scams, said Rajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Indian Cyber ​​Crime Coordination Center (I4C).

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7.4 lakh complaints were filed between January 1 and April 30, 2024; 15.56 lakh complaints were received in the entire 2023, 9.66 lakh complaints in 2022 and 4.52 lakh complaints in 2021.

“Cybercrime operations in these countries use a comprehensive range of deceptive strategies, including recruitment efforts using social media, to lure Indians with fake employment opportunities,” Kumar was quoted as saying in the report.

What are digital arrests?

Victims receive a phone call with the caller claiming to have sent or will send packages containing illegal goods, drugs, fake passports, or other items.

In other cases, scammers call victims’ friends and family to tell them the victim was involved in a crime.

Wearing uniforms and claiming to be law enforcement, they would target their victims via video call and then demand money to close the case.

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