Lok Sabha Question No. 476 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Cyber Fraud
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Rajbahadur Singh, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Mahendra Singh Solanky, Sandhya Ray, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, P.P. Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 476

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## CYBER FRAUD

## 476.  SHRI RAJBAHADUR SINGH: SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA: SHRI MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY: SHRIMATI SANDHYA RAY: DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV: SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

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

- (a) the details of consumer complaints related to cyber fraud registered on National Consumer Helpline in the past two years;
- (b) whether the Government is taking adequate measures to effectively address the rising number of cyber fraud complaints and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government is formulating an awareness initiative to prevent common cyber frauds and if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor.

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

- (a):As per the information provided by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, a total of 11713 and 9002 complaints of cyber frauds were received on National Consumer Helpline during the financial years 2019-20 and 202021. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) does not maintain any such database.
- (b) and (c): The Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) at Centre and States take appropriate legal action as per provisions of law against the cyber crime offenders. Government helps States in combating cyber crimes by assisting them through various awareness schemes. Government has taken a number of legal, technical and administrative measures to prevent cyber crimes.  These inter alia , include:
- (i) The  Indian  Computer  Emergency  Response  Team  (CERT-In)  issues  alerts  and  advisories  regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities and countermeasures to protect computers and networks on regular basis.
- (ii) To spread  awareness  on  cybercrime,  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  has  taken  several  steps  that include dissemination of messages on cybercrime through Twitter handle @cyberDost, radio campaign, publishing of Handbook for Adolescents / Students, publishing of 'Information Security Best practices' for the benefit of Govt. Officials/ Officers. Organizing of cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks, in  association  with  police  department  in  different  States/UTs  etc.,  issuing  alerts/advisories  on  cyber crimes, capacity building/training of law  enforcement  personnel/  prosecutors/  judicial officers, improving cyber forensics facilities etc.
- (iii) MeitY  through  a  program,  namely,  Information  Security  Education  &  Awareness  (ISEA),  has  been creating  awareness  among  users  highlighting  the  importance  of  following  the  ethics  while  using Internet and advising them not to share rumors/fake news. A dedicated website for information security awareness ( https://www.infosecawareness.in ) provides the relevant awareness material.
- (iv) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued various instructions in respect of security and risk mitigation measures related to electronic/digital transactions which includes Securing Card Transactions, Securing Payments  through  Internet  Banking  /  Electronic  Payments,  ATM  Transactions,  Prepaid  Payment Instruments  (PPIs),  Limiting  Customer  Liability  on  Unauthorized  Electronic  Banking  Transactions, Limiting  Customer  Liability  in  Unauthorized  Electronic  Banking  Transactions  in  PPIs  issued  by Authorised Non-banks, Enhancing Security of Card Transactions etc.

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