‘Gear up to tackle cyber crime and cell phone fraud’

NEW DELHI: The Cyber and Information Security (CIS) division of the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has announced a programme to train 37,500 police and law officers over the next two years on all aspects of tackling cyber crime and also decided to designate Intelligence Bureau’s Fake Indian Currency Network Co-ordination, or FCORD, as the nodal agency to coordinate with states and union territories to investigate cases of phone frauds — both measures aimed at preparing law enforcement agencies to deal with contemporary risks and threats.

The MHA’s move, announced in an advisory released on February 12 comes against the backdrop of a spike in instances of cyber terrorism, fraud, identity theft, hacking, and cyber stalking.

The MHA has also requested the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to direct all e-wallet service providers to announce their central and state nodal officers who will henceforth coordinate with law enforcement agencies for dealing with cyber crime.

The funding for the ~13.35 crore programme will be provided from the a scheme under Nirbhaya fund titled “Cyber Crime prevention against women and Children (CCPWC)”.

“It has become imperative for the law enforcement agencies to have an in-depth understanding of the working of the cyber domain and the modus operandi

of crimes being committed therein. This understanding cannot be limited to a few specialist investigative officers, but is a must for all police officers, especially those who act as first responders to victims of crime and recording them,” reads the MHA advisory.

The training programme will familiarise officials with modern gadgets and technology, web applications, social media websites, Information Technology and copyright laws, even the best way to file a cyber crime FIR.

Study of over 60 types of cyber crimes is also part of the training session.

In another advisory sent on February 12, the MHA has cited the “growing trend of phone frauds” in the country, with the size of most being below ~50,000.

The state governments have been asked to select a nodal officer who will coordinate with FCORD to deal with matters of phone, ATM, and credit cardand debit card-related frauds.