The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has taken significant steps to tackle digital fraud by shutting down 379 illegal loan websites and removing 91 phishing sites between October 2023 and March 2024. Additionally, the centre has rendered 310 malicious '.in' domains non-functional and launched a new 'Report Suspect' feature to enhance cyber fraud prevention.

In an update to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar revealed that the I4C, under the Home Ministry, has been actively working to combat online fraud. This effort includes the removal of 91 phishing or fake websites with the help of various partners.

I4C has also collaborated with the National Internet Exchange of India (Nixi) to address the misuse of ‘.in’ domains. During this period, 310 malicious domains were taken offline. “From October 2023 to May 2024, Nixi assisted in making 310 malicious and phishing domains non-functional. I4C has also worked with industry partners to proactively detect phishing websites using advanced technology. Overall, 91 phishing and fake websites, along with 379 illegal loan scam apps, have been shut down with the help of relevant stakeholders,” Kumar stated.

Furthermore, the I4C introduced the 'Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System,' which has already saved over Rs 2,400 crore across more than 7.6 lakh complaints. This system facilitates quick reporting of financial fraud and helps prevent the diversion of funds by fraudsters.

A new feature named ‘Report Suspect’ was added to the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) on January 31. This feature allows users to easily report suspicious website URLs. Kumar highlighted that 5,252 suspect URLs have been reported so far. Available under the “Suspect Data” category, this feature helps users verify the legitimacy of websites.

These efforts are in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) increased focus on combating digital fraud. The RBI’s annual report for FY24 revealed a staggering 708% rise in online fraud cases over the past two years, totaling 29,082 cases.

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