Amid rising cases of cross-border digital fraud, Indian investigative and cybercrime agencies are considering stricter verification measures aimed at disrupting cybercriminal networks operating from abroad. Officials said new recommendations may include linking bank KYC processes with biometric verification and connecting international mobile roaming services to passports.
The proposals were discussed during a 2-day national conference organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Home Ministry. The meeting brought together cybersecurity experts, law-enforcement officials, banking representatives including the Reserve Bank of India, Interpol officials, and security agencies.
Discussions focused on growing misuse of Indian SIM cards and mule bank accounts by cybercrime syndicates operating from South East Asian countries. The conference examined 3 pillars driving cyber fraud — financial networks involving mule accounts and money laundering, telecom misuse through SIM or eSIM infrastructure, and the human aspect involving cyber slavery and trafficking into scam compounds.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the situation as alarming, noting that 1 person becomes a victim every 37 seconds and nearly 100 people fall prey every hour. He directed agencies to submit recommendations based on the conference discussions.
Addressing the event titled “Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds and Dismantling the Ecosystem,” CBI Director Praveen Sood said cybercrime cannot occur without access to SIM cards and bank accounts, regardless of where criminals operate. He added that cybercrime hubs have shifted from Indian regions such as Jamtara, Mewat and Bharatpur to countries including Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, where individuals are lured with fake job offers and forced into fraud operations.
Investigations found that SIM cards activated in India are smuggled abroad and used for scams such as digital arrest threats, fake loans, and fraudulent job schemes. Funds are routed through multiple mule accounts and often converted into cryptocurrency, making recovery difficult.
Key measures under consideration include linking roaming services to passports, regulating roaming based on customer profiles, integrating biometric verification into KYC, and restricting overseas access to Indian bank accounts via VPN services. Authorities said genuine travellers will not face inconvenience.
The Supreme Court of India recently noted estimates suggesting over Rs 54,000 crore may have been lost to cybercrime. The CBI, which has investigated cyber offences since 2000, established a dedicated Cybercrime Investigation Division in 2022 to strengthen enforcement.
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