The Indian authorities have issued an urgent warning to residents over the widespread circulation of counterfeit emails impersonating Rajesh Kumar, CEO of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
These fraudulent emails, with misleading subject lines like "Urgent Notification!" and "Court Notification," falsely accuse recipients of cybercrime and pressure them to respond. The PIB Fact Check team has identified these emails as fraudulent, emphasising that they were sent with malicious purpose to trick recipients and exploit their fears.
Fake email threat
The bogus emails exploit the logos of prominent Indian institutions, such as the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Delhi Police, as proof of legitimacy. They also represent themselves by using the names and contact information of senior officials to deceive recipients. These fake emails have been sent to government offices, people, and organisations, posing as official correspondence.
In a tweet from its official handle, @PIBFactCheck, the bureau clarified that these emails are absolutely fraudulent and deceitful. "It is vital to note that neither the undersigned nor this unit originated such emails. Furthermore, no permission has been obtained for the creation or distribution of such content," the release noted.
Cybercrime impact in India
Concern over the rise in cybercrime in India is growing. Avinash Mohanty, the commissioner of police for Cyberabad, claims that cybercrime makes up more than 30% of the commissionerate's cognisable offences and that it may soon reach 50%. It is alarming to learn that every minute, Indian residents lose between 1.3 and 1.5 lakh rupees to hackers. This startling statistic emphasises the importance of raising awareness and vigilance against online fraud and scams.
The recovery rate for cybercrime damages in the nation remains dismally low, averaging less than 20%. This increases the financial and emotional toll on sufferers. The increase in cybercrime impacts not only individuals and businesses, but also government institutions, which have been targeted in cases of espionage and data breaches.
In recent years, India has had a number of high-profile data breaches, the most significant of which involved Aadhaar, the country's unique citizen identification system. This breach affected over a billion Indians' personal information, including bank account numbers, addresses, and fingerprints. In 2024, the cost of data breaches in India would exceed two million US dollars, illustrating the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks and their devastating consequences.
