Responding to a question from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Mahesh Kashyap, Kumar revealed that the government has also deactivated 7.81 lakh SIM cards and over 2.08 lakh International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers
In a major step against the growing menace of cyber fraud, the Indian government has blocked more than 83,668 WhatsApp accounts and 3,962 Skype accounts linked to digital arrest scams, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar informed the Lok Sabha recently.
Responding to a question from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Mahesh Kashyap, Kumar revealed that the government has also deactivated 7.81 lakh SIM cards and over 2.08 lakh International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers to tackle online frauds, many of which are tied to impersonation scams.
Digital arrest cases typically involve cybercriminals posing as law enforcement or government officials. They contact victims through voice or video calls via platforms like WhatsApp or Skype, accuse them of fabricated legal violations, and demand money for their “release”. These tactics aim to scare and confuse individuals, often leading to significant financial losses.
Although incidents of digital arrests are on the rise, Kumar clarified that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not maintain separate data specifically for such scams. However, the government is intensifying its crackdown through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a centralised body established to respond to cyber threats more efficiently.
To support this, the government has been running public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on how to identify and avoid digital arrest scams. These include multilingual caller tune alerts, partnerships with social media influencers, and informative programmes across electronic media platforms.
“The government is actively working to counter these threats on multiple fronts,” said Kumar. He also highlighted that the I4C has been instrumental in preventing financial frauds worth RS 4,386 crore by responding to over 1.33 million cybercrime complaints since its inception in 2021.
Additionally, the government has operationalised a dedicated cybercrime helpline—1930—to help victims report suspicious activity and quickly prevent monetary loss.
In collaboration with telecom service providers, authorities have also implemented systems to detect and block spoofed international calls that mimic Indian mobile numbers. This effort is aimed at tackling deceptive calls that appear domestic but are actually generated from overseas networks.
As cyber fraud continues to evolve, these measures reflect the government’s commitment to safeguarding citizens from online deception and building a more resilient digital infrastructure.