Cybercriminals beware! India just took this big step to launch crackdown

With increasing usage of gadgets in the Covid-19 era, cyberciminals are taking advantage of the fact that users are not too aware about how they can be duped. In fact users freely provide secret information about their bank accounts, social media accounts and more, to total strangers even. This step by India and the US will ensure that the cybercriminals are deterred as well as caught. To protect the common user, both India and US have come together to police the Internet and ensure innocent people are not affected by cybercrime.

The US Justice Department, on Thursday, said that India and the US will expand their cooperation in fighting cybercrimes, telemarketing fraud and enforce consumer protection rules.

In New Delhi, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials met Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch, together with colleagues from the Consumer Protection Branch and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to further strengthen law enforcement cooperation.

During the meeting, they discussed means for combating emerging crime trends, including fighting rising telemarketing fraud.

The Justice Department, in a statement, said "In their meetings, the parties affirmed their shared commitment to strengthen cooperation in combating crime, specifically with respect to efforts to investigate and prosecute cyber-enabled financial frauds and global telemarketing frauds, including international robocalls and communications".

India and the US will thereby ensure faster information exchange and evidence sharing to tackle emerging technology-based crimes. This continued cooperation in tackling cybercrime will ensure security and protection from cybercriminals for citizens of both jurisdictions, the department added.

Awareness drive on cybercrime launched by Goa police

In the meanwhile, ANI reports that, even as instances of cybercrime are increasing, the Goa police is conducting Cyber awareness drives and visiting schools and colleges as a part of the national-level program under the National cybercrime awareness month.

Cyber Crime Cell has focussed on awareness for children, young adults and teachers. A team has been visiting colleges and schools such as Zantye College, Nirmala Institute, Royal School.

In other initiatives awareness posters are also being published on social media to spread awareness about how to protect oneself from cybercriminals. Goa Police has recently operationalised the national Cybercrime helpline 155260 for instant cybercrime reporting.