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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on May 21, 2025

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Cyber fraud

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

For Mains Examination: GS III - Science and technology, GS II - Governance on Cybercrime

Context:

UNION HOME Minister Amit Shah on Monday said they have introduced the new e-Zero FIR that automatically converts cyber financial crime complaints with a cheating value above Rs 10 lakh, registered on the 1930 helpline or the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), into FIRs.

Read about:

What is cyber fraud?

What is the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)?

Key takeaways:

— The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), created in 2018, operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and is responsible for setting up a national coordination hub to tackle issues related to cybercrime.

— According to official data, India has witnessed a dramatic rise in cybercrime over the past four years, with losses amounting to ₹33,165 crore. In 2024 alone, fraud amounting to ₹22,812 crore was reported, with many Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities emerging as major centers for such crimes.

— Figures from the National Cyber Reporting Platform (NCRP), which functions under the MHA, indicate that cybercriminals defrauded individuals of ₹551 crore in 2021, ₹2,306 crore in 2022, and ₹7,496 crore in 2023.

— The volume of complaints has also surged significantly: 1,37,254 cases in 2021, 5,15,083 in 2022, 11,31,649 in 2023, and 17,10,505 complaints filed in 2024

Cyber Fraud

Cyber fraud refers to any illegal or deceptive activity carried out using digital means, primarily through the internet or electronic communication technologies, with the intention of gaining financial or personal benefits.

Common Types of Cyber Fraud:

• Phishing: Sending fake emails or messages to trick users into revealing personal or financial information.

• Online Banking Fraud: Unauthorized access to bank accounts or transactions.

• Identity Theft: Stealing someone's personal information to impersonate them.

• Credit/Debit Card Fraud: Using someone else’s card information for unauthorized purchases.

• Investment Scams: Promising high returns to lure victi