Cracking Down on Cyber Fraud: India’s IT Ministry Takes Action, Blocks Over 100 Websites Engaged in Organized Illegal Investments and Job Frauds

Global Connections Exposed: Official Statement Reveals Overseas Operators Behind Blocked Websites in India

A decisive move was made by the Union Home Ministry as over 100 websites, serving as conduits for organized illegal investments and deceptive part-time job schemes, were blocked based on the ministry’s recommendation. In an official statement, it was disclosed that these websites were under the operation of foreign entities.

The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), functioning as part of the Union Home Ministry, spearheaded this initiative. Last week, through its vertical National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU), the I4C identified and put forth a recommendation to block more than 100 websites engaged in the realms of organized investment and fraudulent part-time job solicitations.

The action underscores a concerted effort to curb cybercrime activities with a focus on shielding Indian citizens from illicit financial activities and deceptive employment schemes facilitated by these online platforms.

Following this, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), invoking its power under the Information Technology Act, 2000, has blocked these websites, the statement said.These websites, which facilitated task-based organised illegal investment related to economic crimes, were learnt to be operated by overseas actors and were using digital advertisement, chat messengers and mule and rented accounts.

The proceeds from the large-scale economic frauds were seen to be laundered out of India using card network, cryptocurrency, overseas ATM withdrawals and international Fintech companies, the statement said.

The I4C is an initiative of the Home Ministry to deal with cybercrimes in the country in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.Earlier this year, MeitY ordered the blocking of 232 apps operated by overseas entities, including Chinese, for being involved in betting, gambling, and unauthorised loan services.

Fintech firms LazyPay, IndiaBulls Home Loans, and Kissht were on the list of blocked websites. As per the list, MeitY issued orders to block lazypay.in, which is a subsidiary of Dutch investment firm Prosus.A Chase India report in May proposed setting up a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) for the digital lending industry.