Why in news?
The Union Ministry of Telecommunications has informed a high-level inter-ministerial panel that it will disconnect 2.17 crore mobile connections obtained through forged documents or used in cybercrime, and block 2.26 lakh mobile handsets.
What’s in today’s article?
Cyber Slavery
- Background
- Cyber scams and fraud are increasingly common in India, often involving spam calls where scammers pose as government officials to steal sensitive information like Aadhaar and ATM details.
- To avoid detection, these scammers now operate from foreign countries but use Indian mobile numbers to make their calls seem legitimate.
- This shift has given rise to a dangerous trend called 'cyber slavery,' where individuals are lured abroad under false job promises and forced to participate in cybercrime operations.
- About
- Cyber slavery refers to a modern form of exploitation where individuals are lured, often through deceptive job offers, and forced to engage in cybercrimes.
- Victims are usually promised lucrative jobs, such as data entry or tech roles, in foreign countries, particularly in Southeast Asia.
- Upon arrival, their passports and identification documents are confiscated, trapping them in a form of digital servitude.
- These individuals are coerced into performing illegal online activities, such as cyber fraud, phishing, and scamming.
- They may be forced to create fake social media profiles or lure people into fraudulent investment schemes, like fake cryptocurrency platforms.
- Victims often work under harsh conditions, with no freedom of movement, and face threats or violence if they attempt to escape.
- Cause of worry
- Cyber slavery is part of a broader pattern of human trafficking and is increasingly prevalent due to the rise of digital crimes.
- It highlights the intersection of human rights violations and online criminal networks, requiring international cooperation to combat.
- Indians trapped as cyber slaves
- A report revealed that over 5,000 Indians were believed to be ensnared in Cambodia, allegedly held against their will and compelled to commit cyber fraud.
- Government estimates suggest that Indians had been defrauded of at least Rs 500 crore in the six months leading up to March of this year.
- Analysis of data by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has observed an increase in the number of cybercrime incidents targeting India.
- About 45% of them originate from the Southeast Asia region, mainly Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos PDR.
- Inter-ministerial panel formed to address the issue
- This incident prompted the Indian government to establish an inter-ministerial panel to address the issue and pinpoint the loopholes.
- The panel identified deficiencies in the banking, immigration, and telecom sectors.
- It identified three loopholes that enable cyber scams originating from Southeast Asian countries. These are:
- Involvement of the senior bank managers of two nationalised banks to open mule accounts;
- It was found that maximum accounts were allegedly opened with the connivance of senior bank managers/ staffers in several branches of State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank.
- around 30,000 unreturned passengers travelling on visitor visa to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam from January 2022-May 2024; and
- misuse of bulk SIM cards.
- Steps taken by Indian government
- The Union Ministry of Telecommunications has announced to:
- disconnect approximately 2.17 crore mobile connections obtained through forged documents or used in cybercrime and
- block 2.26 lakh mobile handsets.
- DoT has also directed telecom companies to block all incoming international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers.
- This has resulted in a 35% drop in such calls, with full implementation expected by December 31 of this year.
- Additionally, the DoT is working to identify roaming phone numbers involved in scams in Southeast Asia.
- The DoT reported that over 6 lakh Indian SIM cards were roaming in Southeast Asia between April and June 2023.
- Over 1.4 lakh point of sale (PoS) agents across India were identified as being involved in selling SIM cards used in scam operations in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.
- Telecom service providers (TSPs) are required to submit weekly data on Indian mobile numbers utilizing roaming services in countries like Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, and Myanmar.
