Lok Sabha Question No. 3428 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Record/Data of the Scams in Ladakh
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Jamyang Tsering Namgyal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION. NO. 3428

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 09.08.2023

## RECORD/DATA OF THE SCAMS IN LADAKH

## 3428.     SHRI JAMYANG TSERING NAMGYAL:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has the data of the scams that has happened in UT of Ladakh during the last five years and if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has a record of the types of scams and fraud reported during the last five years in UT of Ladakh;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted public awareness/campaign regarding prevention of scams and fraud particularly through online mode in UT of Ladakh; and
- (e) whether the Government has taken preventive measures in rural Ladakh against digital scams or frauds and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The Government is committed to ensure that the Internet in India is Open, Safe & Trusted  and  Accountable  for  all  users.  With  the  expansion  of  the  Internet  and  more  and more Indians coming online, instances of cyber crimes have also increased. Government is fully cognizant and aware of various cyber security threats.

As  per  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB),  NCRB  started  collection  of  data  for Ladakh  UT  separately  since  2020  and  has  provided  data  till  2021.  The  cases  registered under  Fraud  (including  Credit/Debit  cards,  ATM,  online  Banking  Fraud,  OTP  Frauds  & other) for cyber-crimes (involving communication devices as medium/target) during 2020 and 2021 is 0,0 respectively.

(d) and (e): A number of activities for increasing public awareness regarding cyber security have been carried out across the country including in rural areas which include the following:

- i. 1,519 awareness workshops on information security have been organised in both direct and  virtual  mode  for  school  and  college  students,  teachers,  faculty,  government personnel, law enforcement agencies, general users, parents, women, Common Service Centres,  etc.,  covering  3,18,767  participants  across  33  States  and  Union  territories. 1,24,909 school teachers have been trained as master trainers in 43 training programme.
- ii. 5.75  crore  beneficiaries  are  estimated  to  have  been  covered  so  far  through  multiple modes  including  15  Cyber  Safety  and  Cyber  Security  Awareness  Weeks,  116  mass awareness programme broadcast through Doordarshan/All India Radio; 26 editions of bimonthly newsletter and multilingual awareness materials in the form  of handbooks (16),  multimedia  short  videos  (75),  multi-lingual  posters  (121),  cartoon  stories  for children  (65),  etc.  which  have  been  disseminated  through  the  print,  electronics  and social  media,  besides  being  made  available  through  the  ISEA  awareness  website (www.infosecawareness.in).
- iii. A self-paced  three  module  e-learning  course  on  'Cyber  Hygiene  Practices'  has  been made available through ISEA awareness portal www.infosecawareness.in under which 85,767 participants have been registered and 30,849 participants have been certified. In addition, online quiz competitions on cyber hygiene/cyber security aspects have been organized regularly for various users, in which, 7.37 lakh candidates have  participated and 3.90 lakh candidates have cleared the same.
- iv. The CSC Academy, a society set up by CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, has partnered with a number of corporate partners to implement cyber security and safety projects in the rural areas covering more than five lakh direct and indirect beneficiaries, including women.
- v. 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 an ongoing basis through its official social media handles and websites, which benefits all citizens, including those in rural areas.
- vi. CERT-In organised various events and activities for citizens during Safer Internet Day on  07.02.2023  and  Cyber  Security  Awareness  Month  in  October  2022,  by  posting security tips using posters and videos on social media platforms and websites. CERTIn, in association with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, conducted an online awareness campaign for citizens, covering topics such as general online safety, social media risks and safety, mobile related frauds and safety, secure digital payment practices, etc., through videos and quizzes on the MyGov platform.
- vii. Cyber Swachtta Kendra conducted "Cyber Swachhta Campaign" during the month of October  2022,  and  around  69  crore  one-time  SMS  were  sent  out  through  Internet Service Providers to citizens including in rural areas to create cyber security awareness.
- viii. Ladakh police has taken preventive measures through social media, news bulletin, print media, text messages and distribution/paste of pamphlet and poster among the people to remain refrain from the fraudsters. Public awareness campaign regarding the prevention of  scams and fraud were conducted in the villages, schools, colleges and particularly during public gathering.
- ix. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken steps to spread awareness on cyber crime that  inter-alia  include;  issuance  of  alerts/advisories,  dissemination  of  messages through SMS, 14C social media account i.e. Twitter handle (@Cyberdost), Facebook(CyberDostI4C),  Instagram  (cyberdosti4c),  Telegram  (cyberdosti4c),  Radio campaign, engaged MyGov for publicity in multiple media, publishing of Handbook for Adolescents/Students,  organizing  of  Cyber  Safety  and  Security  Awareness  week,  in association with police department in different States/UTs etc.
- x. MHA has issued advisory to  all  the  State/UT  Governments  to  carry  out  publicity  of National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal https://cybercrime.gov.in and toll-free helpline number '1930' to create mass awareness.

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