Lok Sabha Question No. 3498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: Increase in Online Fraud
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, NALIN KUMAR KATEEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3498

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 02.01.2019

## INCREASE IN ONLINE FRAUD

## 3498.    SHRI D.K. SURESH: SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is true that consumers from India are less aware about online frauds when compared to other APAC (Asia Pacific) countries and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether it is also true that the opportunity for online fraud is escalating as consumers are looking for easier ways to buy products online;
- (c) if so, whether the Government is aware that there is more that needs to be done to build awareness to fight online fraud and if so, the steps taken in this regard; and
- (d) the other measures taken by the Government to protect the consumers from digital frauds?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a):  There  are  media  reports  indicating  that  that  consumers  from  India  are  less  aware  about  online  frauds  when compared to other APAC (Asia Pacific) countries.

(b):  Cyberspace  has  distinct  and  unique  characteristics  as  compared  to  physical  space.    With  widespread proliferation  of  new  technologies  like  online  shopping,  there  are  some  miscreants  who  are  misusing  these technologies to commit online frauds. Thus misuse of cyberspace including online shopping related frauds is on rise in the country as elsewhere in the world.

(c) and (d): Cyber security is a challenging field because of ever changing threat scenario.  Continuous efforts are required to be made to protect ICT infrastructure from cyber attacks by way of hardening of servers and networks and  deploying  appropriate  security  controls.  Further,  the  Government  has  taken  several  measures  to  protect  the consumers from digital frauds. These, inter alia , include:

- (i) The  Indian  Computer  Emergency  Response  Team  (CERT-In)  issues  alerts  and  advisories  regarding  latest cyber threats and countermeasures on regular basis to ensure safe usage of digital technologies. Regarding securing digital payments, 28 advisories have been issued for users and institutions.
- (ii) Government  has  empanelled  76  security  auditing  organisations  to  support  and  audit  implementation  of Information Security Best Practices.
- (iii) All authorised entities/ banks issuing Prepaid Paynent Instruments (PPIs) in the country have been advised by CERT-In through Reserve bank of India to carry out special audit by empanelled auditors of CERT-In on a priority basis and to take immediate steps thereafter to comply with the findings of the audit report and ensure implementation of security best practices.
- (iv) All the new government websites and applications are to be audited with respect to cyber security prior to their hosting.  The auditing of the websites and applications is to be conducted on a regular basis after hosting.
- (v) Government has issued guidelines for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) regarding their key roles and responsibilities for securing applications / infrastructure and compliance.
- (vi) All organizations providing digital services have been mandated to report cyber security incidents to CERT-In expeditiously.
- (vii) CERT-In conducts regular training programmes for network / system administrators and Chief Information Security  Officers  (CISOs)  of  Government  and  critical  sector  organisations  regarding  securing  the  IT infrastructure and mitigating cyber attacks. 22 trainings covering 746 participants conducted in the year 2018 (till November).
- (viii) Government has launched the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre). The centre is providing detection of malicious programs and free tools to remove the same.

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