The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken action against a network of fraudulent activities, blocking more than 100 websites involved in organized investment and part-time job scams. These illicit operations, identified as facilitating illegal economic crimes related to investments, were reportedly operated by cyber threat actors based overseas.
According to the MHA's official statement, these fraudulent websites employed various tactics such as digital advertisements, chat messengers, and the utilization of mule and rented accounts. The ministry highlighted that the proceeds from these widespread economic frauds were being laundered out of India through channels including card networks, cryptocurrencies, overseas ATM withdrawals, and international financial technology companies.
Under the leadership of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to combatting cybercrime and safeguarding citizens against cyber threats.
The scams, often presented under the guise of 'Ghar Baithe Job' (Work from Home Jobs), targeted individuals through targeted digital ads on platforms like Google and Meta, employing keywords like "ghar baithe job" and "ghar baithe kamai kaise karen" in multiple languages. These deceptive tactics predominantly aimed at retired employees, women, and unemployed youth seeking part-time opportunities.
The fraudulent process typically initiated with digital ad clicks, leading potential victims into conversations via WhatsApp or Telegram with agents. These agents persuaded victims to perform various tasks such as video likes, map ratings, etc., promising commissions upon completion. As trust was built, victims were enticed to invest more money for higher returns against these tasks. However, upon depositing larger sums, victims found their deposits frozen, ultimately falling prey to the scam.
The Centre advised exercising caution before engaging in high-commission online schemes. It warned against performing financial transactions with unknown persons on WhatsApp or Telegram without proper verification. Additionally, citizens were urged to scrutinize the recipient's name in the UPI app, ensuring it aligns with authentic sources, and to thoroughly verify the sources of initial commission payments.
The Centre emphasized the importance of refraining from transactions with unknown accounts to prevent involvement in potential money laundering or terror financing activities. Citizens were encouraged to report phone numbers and social media handles used by such fraudsters to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) to curb these illicit operations.