| Over 9.42 lakh SIM cards, 2.63 lakh IMEIs blocked across country | | Cybercrime Crimes | |  Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 2: In a major crackdown on cybercriminal networks, authorities have blocked over 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2.63 lakh International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers for their alleged involvement in cybercrime activities across the country. This information was shared by the Central Government in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the scale of cyber frauds being reported nationwide. As per the data, India recorded a staggering 22,68,346 cyber fraud cases in the year 2020 alone.
“So far, more than 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2,63,348 IMEIs, as reported by police authorities, have been blocked by the Government of India,” the data reveals, underscoring the growing concern over digital frauds and misuse of mobile infrastructure.
To combat cybercrime in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has undertaken several initiatives. Foremost among them is the establishment of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which serves as a central hub for all types of cybercrime-related issues.
As part of this initiative, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched to allow citizens to report cybercrime incidents directly, with a special emphasis on cases affecting women and children. The portal facilitates registration and monitoring of cases, while subsequent investigations and FIR registrations are handled by respective State and Union Territory law enforcement agencies.
To address financial cyber fraud specifically, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) was launched in 2021. This system enables immediate reporting of financial scams and helps intercept the flow of stolen funds. So far, over Rs 5,489 crore has been prevented from falling into the hands of cyber fraudsters through this platform, based on more than 17.82 lakh complaints received.
Additionally, a dedicated helpline (1930) has been made operational for victims of cyber financial frauds to quickly seek assistance in lodging online complaints.
A Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) has also been set up under I4C, where officials from major banks, payment aggregators, telecom providers, IT intermediaries, and law enforcement agencies work together in real-time to disrupt fraud operations and ensure seamless coordination.
To strengthen grassroots capacity, the MHA has extended support to States and UTs under the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme. This includes financial assistance for establishing cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories, hiring junior cyber consultants, and conducting training programs for law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and judicial officers.
So far, such laboratories have been set up in 33 States/UTs, and more than 24,600 personnel have been trained in areas such as cybercrime awareness, digital forensics, and investigative techniques.
To promote inter-agency learning and coordination, the MHA also organizes ‘State Connect’, ‘Thana Connect’, and peer learning sessions to disseminate best practices and enhance institutional capacity to tackle cyber threats.
The multi-pronged approach signals the government’s seriousness in addressing the rapidly evolving landscape of cybercrime, with a focus on both preventive and punitive measures. |
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