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A vast and highly organized industry is known as online scams, which are characterized by intricate supply chains that include services, equipment, and labor. In recent years, cybercrime has gone beyond isolated criminal activities, but has developed into a highly sophisticated network with direct links to countries such as Russia, China, and North Korea. Originally considered a low-level fraud, it has now become a global and geopolitical concern with an increase in international activity.
Even though cybersecurity measures have advanced significantly over the years, individuals remain the primary defense against financial losses resulting from online fraud. As cyber threats' volume and sophistication continue to increase, governments must take stronger actions to safeguard citizens, businesses, and institutions from the increasing risks posed by cybercriminal activities as they continue to grow.
A critical national security issue of today is cybercrime, requiring the same level of attention as drug trafficking and terrorism financing.
While efforts have been made to address these threats, most have been aimed at large-scale ransomware attacks targeting governments as well as essential services such as healthcare. These incidents, though high-profile, are only a fraction of what is happening on a much greater scale and with a much greater level of pervasiveness in the world today.
It is difficult to estimate how much money is lost as a result of cybercrime, but the impact on society is unquestionably significant.
There is a need for a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to online fraud as it continues to grow on a global scale. In his speech, Droupadi Murmu pointed out that digital fraud, cybercrime, and deepfake technology pose a huge threat to social, financial, and national security and stressed that securing these threats is imperative.
A government official reiterated the commitment of the government to strengthening cybersecurity measures, stating that these challenges were critical to the security framework of the nation. She stated to the joint session of Parliament that India had made significant progress in the digital domain and that it hoped to lead global innovation by 2025.
As part of the India AI Mission, she mentioned that artificial intelligence is aimed at enhancing India's position in emerging technologies by advancing artificial intelligence.
In addition, she said that India’s UPI system has been recognized across the world as having revolutionized digital transactions. To reinforce the government’s role in economic growth and national development, she highlighted the efforts of the government to use digital technology to promote social justice, financial inclusion, and transparency.
She also highlighted initiatives aimed at enhancing financial stability, improving governance, and promoting inclusive growth, among other things.
In terms of government schemes, she pointed out the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which has disbursed Rs 41,000 crores to millions of farmers over the past few years, ensuring agricultural stability and rural development. In addition to addressing significant policy reforms, he also discussed ‘One Nation, One Election,’ a program that aims to synchronize elections nationwide, thereby enhancing political stability and reducing administrative costs.
The Waqf Bill, which she discussed in detail, is intended to increase transparency and governance in the management of Waqf properties, and is being discussed. As artificial intelligence becomes more and more accessible and affordable, it becomes increasingly important for criminals to use these tools. These tools enable large-scale, high-value scams that are becoming harder and harder to detect and prevent.
There has been a loss of US$26 million suffered by a Hong Kong-based company in 2024 as a result of the employee being tricked into transferring funds to fraudsters by using an artificial intelligence filter, on a video call, to pose as the chief financial officer of the company. The majority of the responsibility for combating scams has been borne by the banks.
The government has taken considerable measures to compensate victims as well as to implement warning systems and education programs, particularly in countries like the United Kingdom.
To track and block fraudulent activities, financial institutions have urged internet and social media companies to cooperate in more ways. However, artificial intelligence and the proliferation of cryptocurrencies have added to the difficulty of detecting and preventing fraud, making them even more complex.
As a result of the Google Threat Intelligence Group's recommendations, governments have been advised to strengthen education and awareness efforts to provide individuals with better defenses against cyber threats. Additionally, it has been suggested that banks and technology companies have more power to combat criminal networks directly in their way.
To effectively address these threats, we must treat cybercrime with the same urgency as drug trafficking and terrorism. As a result, international intelligence must be shared, enforcement mechanisms must be enhanced, and financial transactions through banking networks and cryptocurrency exchanges should be strictly controlled.
In the past couple of years, governments and security agencies have been slow in responding to the increasing fraud epidemic due mainly to the small scale of individual cases, which makes investigations seem ineffective. However, these smaller incidents collectively produce considerable profits for cybercriminals. According to UK Finance, one of the biggest trade associations in the UK, 82% of fraud cases involve amounts less than $1,000 ($1,260). However, they account for 12% of all financial losses.
The total number of incidents involving fraud exceeding £100,000 constitutes less than 3% of all incidents; however, these cases account for nearly 60% of all frauds.
It is important to note that, regardless of their varying scales, all fraudulent activities contribute to a growing and extremely profitable cybercrime industry, demonstrating the need to strengthen law enforcement, take preventive measures, and coordinate international efforts to reduce the risk of fraud.
Currently, cybercrime is in an active state of evolution, with online fraud becoming an increasingly organized and lucrative industry.
Criminal networks are often connected to geopolitical entities and leverage artificial intelligence and digital tools to carry out sophisticated scams, which makes preventing these scams even more difficult. Droupadi Murmu stressed the importance of cybersecurity advancements in India, highlighting the digital initiatives and financial reforms that have been initiated.
Amid the rising threat of cybercrime, financial institutions have been calling for a greater collaborative effort between the technology sector and the financial sector to combat fraud. Because cybercrime poses a serious threat to national security, experts have been advocating for global cooperation, stricter regulatory oversight, and stronger cyber defenses.
