The Evolution of Cybercrime

Cybercrime has transformed from isolated scam calls to a highly organized ecosystem, targeting millions daily through various communication platforms.

Psychological Manipulation Tactics

• Fraudsters use fear, urgency, and excitement to manipulate individuals into impulsive decisions.
• Common scams include bank account compromises, electricity disconnection threats, and bogus courier verifications.

Tools and Techniques

• Platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook are frequently used.
• Techniques include spoofed links and domain spoofing to steal credentials.
• Fraudulent links are now polished with HTTPS certificates and realistic login pages.

Impact of Cybercrime

• Cybercrime targets everyone, especially the elderly and digitally uninitiated.
• India is projected to lose ₹20k cr to cybercrime in 2025, a 75% increase from the previous year.
• The emotional impact on victims is severe.

Approaches to Combat Cybercrime

Addressing cybercrime demands a coordinated response from all digital ecosystem players.

• Create a fraud bureau for collective action against fraudsters.
• Develop and share digital solutions across platforms.
• Educate consumers on avoiding scams.
• Implement regulation across all digital platforms, including OTT apps.

If successfully implemented, these steps can ensure India's digital revolution continues as a symbol of progress and trust.