Over 100 websites blocked for illegal investments and part-time job fraud

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry revealed that a crackdown on illegal activities led to the blockage of over 100 websites, primarily operated from overseas, engaging in organised illegal investments and part-time job scams.

These websites, identified by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), were involved in fraudulent activities and were recommended for blocking through the National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU), an initiative by the Home Ministry aimed at combating cybercrimes effectively.

The spokesperson emphasised that creating a "Cyber Safe India" stands as a top priority under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's guidance.

The fraudulent schemes often lured individuals using targeted digital advertisements with phrases like "ghar baithe job" (work from home jobs) and "ghar baithe kamai kaise karen" (how to earn while sitting at home) in various languages. Typically, retirees, women, and unemployed youths were targeted through WhatsApp or Telegram, convincing them to perform tasks such as liking videos or rating maps.

Initially, victims were promised commissions, but they were later coerced into investing more for higher returns. Once substantial sums were deposited, their funds were frozen, leading to substantial deception, according to the spokesperson.

In an effort to protect citizens from such fraudulent activities, the Home Ministry urged individuals to promptly report phone numbers and social media handles used by fraudsters to the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) invoked its powers under the Information Technology Act, 2000, to block these websites, which were facilitating illegal investments and fraudulent activities.

These illicit proceeds were being laundered abroad through various means, including card networks, cryptocurrency, overseas ATM withdrawals, and international Fintech companies.

The public was advised to exercise caution before investing in online schemes that promise unusually high commissions. They were warned against engaging in financial transactions without proper verification and urged to report any suspicious activities to ensure a safer digital environment.

Additionally, cautionary measures were suggested, including verifying the receiver's name in the UPI App and avoiding transactions with unknown accounts to mitigate the risks of money laundering and terror financing.