In a major crackdown on rising cyber fraud, including digital arrest scams and investment frauds, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ cyber wing—the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)—has launched a large-scale “digital strike” targeting the infrastructure used by cybercriminals.
As part of the operation, authorities have blocked 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,867 WhatsApp accounts that were allegedly being used to carry out sophisticated scams since the beginning of 2025. The action was carried out in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), law enforcement agencies, and telecom service providers.
The crackdown has also focused heavily on mobile and network-level threats. Officials have blocked approximately 8.45 lakh SIM cards and 2.39 lakh mobile IMEI numbers identified through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), significantly disrupting the communication networks used by fraudsters.
In addition, 827 malicious mobile applications have been blocked, and more than 1.11 lakh pieces of suspicious online content have been removed or restricted using the government’s Sahyog portal.
Authorities have also implemented real-time mechanisms to detect and freeze devices, accounts, and credentials linked to cybercrime activities. This approach is aimed at preventing further misuse and limiting the scale of financial and psychological harm caused by such scams.
The operation reflects an intensified effort by the government to dismantle organised cybercrime networks and strengthen digital security for citizens as online fraud cases continue to rise.
