🔴 National Cybersecurity Updates & Crime Crackdowns

1. Chhattisgarh Police Uncover Cybercrime Syndicate with Cambodian Links 💰🚔

Chhattisgarh Police dismantled an international cybercrime syndicate operating from Cambodia, where criminals siphoned off over ₹10 crore from Indian victims.

📌 Key Findings:

✔️ The gang operated call centers in Cambodia, targeting Indian citizens with fake job offers and fraudulent investment schemes.

✔️ The prime accused, Shrenik Sanghvi, met handlers in Cambodia, where he was assigned to launder stolen funds.

✔️ Over 30 mule bank accounts were used to route fraud money abroad.

Law enforcement warns citizens not to engage with unsolicited financial offers, particularly from unknown numbers or emails.

🔗 Read more

2. DoT Busts Fraudulent Sale of 500 SIM Cards Used in Cyber Crimes 📱⚠️

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Hyderabad unit discovered a massive SIM fraud, where a fraudulent PoS (Point of Sale) agent illegally sold 500 Vodafone Idea SIMs to cybercriminals.

📌 How the Scam Worked:

✔️ SIMs were used for cyber frauds, including phishing and scam calls.

✔️ Some were linked to SIM box technology, enabling bulk SMS phishing campaigns.

✔️ Authorities seized 130 SIMs and arrested multiple suspects.

🔗 Read more

3. Three Cambodia-Based Cyber Thugs Arrested for ₹10 Crore Scam 🌍🚨

Police arrested three key members of an international cyber fraud gang that duped victims of ₹10 crore through fake investment schemes.

📌 How They Operated:

✔️ The gang used mule accounts to launder stolen money.

✔️ Victims were lured into fake trading platforms, where they saw fake profits before being asked for larger deposits.

✔️ Money was transferred to Cambodia, making recovery difficult.

🔗 Read more

4. Man Loses ₹7.4 Lakh in Fake Hotel Review Scheme 🏨💸

A private company employee from Hyderabad was duped of ₹7.4 lakh after being tricked into writing fake hotel reviews for promised rewards.

📌 Scam Details:

✔️ Victim was initially paid ₹8,250 to review five-star hotels.

✔️ To continue earning, he was asked to pay ‘processing fees’ through multiple bank accounts.

✔️ Completed 21 fake tasks, losing ₹7.4 lakh before realizing the scam.

🔗 Read more

5. ‘Safe Click’ Cyber Awareness Drive Launched in Madhya Pradesh 🔐📢

The Madhya Pradesh Police launched ‘Safe Click’, a statewide cyber awareness campaign to educate citizens about cyber threats.

📌 Initiative Highlights:

✔️ Focused on cyber fraud prevention in rural and urban areas.

✔️ Awareness programs conducted in schools, panchayats, and public places.

✔️ Special emphasis on financial scams, phishing, and online privacy.

🔗 Read more

6. Noida Police Recover ₹1.55 Crore Lost in Online Fraud 🏦✅

A businessman from Noida fell victim to a fraudulent email scam, transferring ₹1.55 crore to scammers posing as UK-based vendors.

📌 Recovery Process:

✔️ Cybercriminals forged emails to impersonate a legitimate supplier.

✔️ Victim transferred money to fake accounts, believing it was for a pending transaction.

✔️ Noida Cyber Crime Police traced the transactions and helped recover the amount in two months.

🔗 Read more

7. Senior Citizen in Vadodara Loses ₹1.28 Crore in Investment Scam 📉🚨

A Vadodara resident lost ₹1.28 crore after falling for a high-return investment scam via WhatsApp.

📌 How He Was Duped:

✔️ Victim was added to a WhatsApp group promising quick profits.

✔️ Initial investments showed fake profits, leading him to invest more.

✔️ Scammers locked him out of the account when he attempted withdrawals.

🔗 Read more

8. Bengaluru Police Crack Down on Cyber Fraudster Ring, Seven Held 🚔📱

The Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police dismantled a fraudster network operating out of Mysuru, arresting seven individuals involved in digital financial scams.

📌 Key Findings:

✔️ Fraudsters used Instagram to communicate with their handlers outside the state.

✔️ Recovered 9 mobile phones, 31 ATM cards, and 11 bank passbooks used for laundering money.

✔️ At least 28 victims were scammed using mule accounts flagged earlier by the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930).

🔗 Read more

9. Union Budget 2025 Allocates ₹1,900 Crore for Cybersecurity Protection 💰🛡️

The Indian government increased its cybersecurity budget to ₹1,900 crore to counter growing cyber fraud and digital crimes.

📌 Budget Highlights:

✔️ 67.8% of cybercrime complaints in India involve financial fraud.

✔️ New initiatives will focus on AI-powered cyber defense, fraud detection, and training cybersecurity professionals.

✔️ India lost ₹11,300 crore to online scams in 2024, per the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).

🔗 Read more

10. Kamothe Police & Colony Forum Host Cybercrime Awareness Session 👮‍♂️📢

To curb rising cyber fraud cases, the Kamothe Police in Navi Mumbai held an awareness session in Sector 36.

📌 Key Takeaways:

✔️ Residents were educated on common cyber scams and security tips.

✔️ Senior Police Inspector Vimal Bidve emphasized safe digital practices.

✔️ The community-driven initiative aims to prevent cyber fraud before it occurs.

🔗 Read more

11. Bengaluru Residents Lost ₹1,998 Crore to Cyber Fraud in 2024 💸📉

Despite awareness campaigns, cyber frauds in Bengaluru surged in 2024, with ₹1,998 crore stolen—almost three times more than 2023.

📌 Police Insights:

✔️ 17,560 cybercrime cases were reported, with 48 cases per day.

✔️ The Whitefield and South divisions recorded the highest fraud cases.

✔️ Investment scams and digital arrest frauds were the biggest contributors to financial losses.

🔗 Read more

12. Fake Cybercrime Reporting Website Discovered; FIR Registered ⚠️📲

A fraudulent cybercrime reporting portal was found tricking victims into paying ₹1,999 as a service fee to file complaints.

📌 Details of the Scam:

✔️ Cybercriminals used a Google-sponsored ad to promote a fake ‘Cyber Crime Complaint’ website.

✔️ Victims were scammed while trying to report cyber fraud cases.

✔️ An FIR has been registered against unknown fraudsters under Section 318(2) and 318(4) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

🔗 Read more

13. Quick E-FIR Filing for Cyber Crimes Coming Soon in India 🖥️🚀

The Ministry of Home Affairs is working on a National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) upgrade to allow e-FIR filing for cyber fraud cases.

📌 New System Features:

✔️ Victims will be able to file complaints online and convert them into e-FIRs.

✔️ Focus on digital payment frauds, social media scams, and identity theft cases.

✔️ The initiative will streamline the reporting process and enhance investigation speed.

🔗 Read more

14. Aadhaar Update Scams Surge: Citizens Warned Against Fake Messages 📜⚠️

Cybercriminals are exploiting Aadhaar updates to trick citizens into revealing sensitive personal and banking information.

📌 How the Scam Works:

✔️ Victims receive fake Aadhaar update notifications via SMS and email.

✔️ They are directed to fraudulent websites posing as UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India).

✔️ Personal details are stolen and used for bank fraud and identity theft.

🔗 Read more

15. Bombay HC to Hear PIL for Enhanced Cybersecurity on Maharashtra Govt Websites 🏛️💻

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking stronger cybersecurity for Maharashtra government websites.

📌 PIL Highlights:

✔️ IT Consultant Ruzbeh Dossabhoy Raja filed the petition, citing poor monitoring and security loopholes.

✔️ Government websites were found redirecting users to gambling portals, raising concerns of data theft.

✔️ The PIL urges the state to implement firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and updated content management platforms.

🔗 Read more

16. Delhi Police Bust Cyber Fraud Network, Arrest Three from Lucknow & Karnal 🚔💰

The Delhi Cyber Crime Police cracked down on a multi-state cyber fraud syndicate, arresting three key members operating in Lucknow and Karnal.

📌 Investigation Findings:

✔️ Scammers used VoIP services to impersonate CBI & TRAI officials.

✔️ Victims were threatened with legal action and coerced into transferring large sums of money.

✔️ Fraudsters leveraged cloud-based call systems like VOS 3000 to disguise their identities.

🔗 Read more

17. Cyber Frauds Jump 900% in Four Years; Small Cities Become Scam Hubs 📈⚠️

A 900% increase in cyber fraud cases has been recorded in the past four years, with Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities emerging as new hotspots for online scams.

📌 Key Data Insights:

✔️ Cybercriminals stole ₹33,165 crore from Indian citizens between 2021-2024.

✔️ Deoghar (Jharkhand), Nuh (Haryana), Mathura (UP), and Surat (Gujarat) reported the highest fraud cases.

✔️ Investment scams, fake job portals, and digital arrest frauds contributed to the spike.

🔗 Read more

18. Tamil Nadu Police Launch Hackathon to Tackle Cybercrime 🏆👨‍💻

The Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing has initiated a Hackathon to develop AI-driven solutions for cyber fraud prevention.

📌 Hackathon Details:

✔️ 315 teams participated, with 54 advancing to the final round.

✔️ Challenges included VoIP call interception, de-anonymizing Tor Mail, and dark web surveillance.

✔️ Winning solutions will be implemented by law enforcement agencies.

🔗 Read more

19. Tamil Nadu Residents Lost ₹1,700 Crore to Cyber Frauds in 2024 💸🚨

Official cybercrime data from Tamil Nadu reveals ₹1,673 crore in losses due to online scams in 2024.

📌 Key Findings:

✔️ 46% of fraudulent transactions were frozen, saving victims ₹771 crore.

✔️ The Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) received 2.7 lakh calls last year.

✔️ 861 cybercriminals were arrested, with 35 detained under the Goondas Act.

🔗 Read more

20. MBVV Cyber Cell Recovers ₹1.37 Lakh Lost to Online Fraud 🔄💳

The Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) Cyber Cell successfully recovered ₹1.37 lakh lost by a victim to a malicious phishing link.

📌 Case Details:

✔️ The victim clicked a fraudulent link disguised as a bank verification request.

✔️ MBVV Police intervened within the Golden Hour (first 24 hours) to reverse the transaction.

✔️ Citizens are urged to report frauds immediately on 1930 or www.cybercrime.gov.in.

🔗 Read more

21. Cyber Police Kashmir Denies Claims of Pakistani Posters in Srinagar 🚔🚫

The Cyber Police in Kashmir dismissed reports from Pakistani media alleging that posters of PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir were found in Srinagar.

📌 Official Response:

✔️ The false claims were spread through unverified social media handles.

✔️ Legal action is being taken against fake news propagators.

✔️ Citizens are advised to rely on verified news sources for accurate information.

🔗 Read more

🌍 International Cybersecurity Developments

1. Cracked and Nulled Cybercrime Marketplaces Dismantled in Global Operation 🌐🚔

A U.S.-led international operation took down two of the largest cybercrime forums, Cracked and Nulled, which facilitated hacking, data theft, and cyber fraud.

📌 Impact of the Operation:

✔️ Over 4 million registered users affected.

✔️ Marketplaces sold hacking tools, stolen data, and malware services.

✔️ Law enforcement seized multiple domains and arrested key administrators.

🔗 Read more

2. AI-Powered Cyber Threats: Hackers Exploiting Google’s Gemini 🤖⚠️

Cybersecurity experts report that threat actors from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia are leveraging Google’s AI-powered Gemini to enhance cyber warfare operations.

📌 How Hackers Are Using AI:

✔️ Creating sophisticated phishing campaigns targeting defense organizations.

✔️ Automating reconnaissance on security professionals.

✔️ Analyzing military and aerospace vulnerabilities in the U.S. and Europe.

🔗 Read more

3. Hackers Hijack WordPress Sites to Spread Malware on Windows & Mac 🖥️🦠

Cybercriminals are exploiting outdated WordPress plugins to infect over 10,000 websites, spreading malware targeting both Windows and Mac users.

📌 How the Attack Works:

✔️ Victims are tricked into downloading a fake Chrome update, which installs malware.

✔️ The malware steals passwords and personal data.

✔️ Cybersecurity experts urge WordPress site owners to update their software.

🔗 Read more

4. US & Dutch Authorities Dismantle Pakistan-Based Cybercrime Network 🌍🚔

An international law enforcement operation dismantled a Pakistan-based cybercrime syndicate selling hacking tools, phishing kits, and stolen data.

📌 Impact of the Operation:

✔️ Dozens of domains linked to the group were seized.

✔️ The group, known as Saim Raza (HeartSender), sold hacking tools worldwide.

✔️ The US reported losses exceeding $3 million due to this syndicate.

🔗 Read more

5. DeepSeek AI Cyber Attack Raises Security Concerns 🤖🔓

A major cyber attack on Chinese AI startup DeepSeek exposed chat logs, backend data, and sensitive information, raising concerns about AI security.

📌 Key Findings:

✔️ The attack leaked API keys & user data, allowing cybercriminals to exploit AI-driven services.

✔️ AI tools are increasingly being targeted due to their access to sensitive data.

✔️ Experts warn of a growing trend of AI-driven cyber threats.

🔗 Read more

6. Cybersecurity Agencies Issue Security Guidance for Network Edge Devices 🔒🛜

Cybersecurity agencies from Five Eyes Nations (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) released new security guidelines for edge devices.

📌 Security Recommendations:

✔️ Strengthen firewalls and VPN security to prevent unauthorized breaches.

✔️ Regularly update firmware and software patches.

✔️ Monitor IoT devices for potential data leaks and hacking attempts.

🔗 Read more

🔐 Closing Thoughts

Episode 17 wraps up with alarming cybercrime statistics, major financial losses, police crackdowns, and government initiatives to enhance digital security.

While cyber frauds surged by 900% in India, efforts like Tamil Nadu’s hackathon and Maharashtra’s cybersecurity PIL showcase proactive responses. Internationally, AI security breaches and network device vulnerabilities pose emerging threats.

Stay updated and cyber-aware! Join us next week for Episode 18 with more insights. Until then, stay vigilant and cyber-secured with Visionary Bose! 🌍🔐

By : Shivam Dharpure

Founder & Director

Visionary Bose Pvt. Ltd.