The Indian government has directed app-based communication services like WhatsApp and Telegram to ensure continuous linkage to a user's active SIM card to combat cyber fraud. Non-compliance will result in penalties under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The Indian government has extended the deadline for implementing SIM-binding rules for mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to December 31, following requests from the industry. The Department of Telecom has also relaxed the mandatory six-hour log-out rule for web versions of these apps.
The family of Irfan Sheikh, a cabin crew member who died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last year, continues to recharge his mobile phone and send him WhatsApp messages as a way to cope with their enduring grief.
The missive has, however, polarised stakeholders, with mobile operators under COAI coming out in its support, while digital platforms under the aegis of Broadband India Forum expressing "serious concerns" around overreach and calling for a pause in implementation of timelines.
The directions follow a report by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which has seen a new pattern of transnational cyber-enabled financial fraud and investment scam, impersonating as stockbrokers and company executives.
Police investigation reveals doctors linked to Al Falah University used the Threema app to plan the Delhi blast. The app's encryption and private server capabilities made it difficult to trace their communications.
The WhatsApp account of the Barwani district collector in Madhya Pradesh was hacked, with fraudsters sending messages to her contacts requesting money.
The Haryana Police have launched 'Abhedya', a mobile application designed to curb cybercrime, extortion, and threatening calls. This initiative makes Haryana the first state in India to introduce such a measure, aiming to protect citizens from various forms of digital harassment.
Bihar Police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a Muzaffarpur resident for his alleged links with Pakistan-based arms smuggler Shahzad Bhatti's gang, seizing digital evidence indicating anti-India activities.
The management of Kannur Dental College has refuted allegations of caste discrimination in connection with the death of a BDS student, attributing the incident to issues related to a loan obtained through a mobile app.
Police in Agra have registered a case regarding a death threat allegedly received by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman via WhatsApp. An investigation is underway.
Nuh Police have arrested three alleged cyber fraudsters involved in sextortion and online fraud through fake messages. Police also recovered fake SIM cards, mobile phones, and digital data related to cyber fraud from their possession.
A 57-year-old man from Thane district was defrauded of Rs 9.08 lakh by cyber criminals who used a malicious link disguised as a Mahanagar Gas bill payment update, gaining remote access to his device and siphoning funds.
A BJP Minority Morcha leader in Nagpur, Jamal Anwarul Haq Siddiqui, reported receiving threatening WhatsApp messages demanding money for a conspiracy to target top Congress leaders.
A 60-year-old retired man and 21 others in Thane district were allegedly defrauded of over Rs 31 lakh through a malicious link disguised as a piped gas bill update. The victims received an APK file via WhatsApp, leading to unauthorised debits from their bank accounts.
A 64-year-old man from Thane was allegedly defrauded of 1.56 crore by cybercriminals using a 'digital arrest' scam, involving forged documents and constant surveillance.
Delhi Police have dismantled a cyber fraud racket involving malicious mobile applications, arresting two individuals, including the alleged mastermind from Uttar Pradesh. The accused developed and supplied 'FUD' APK files to cyber fraudsters across the country, enabling them to gain remote access to victims' phones and siphon off money.
Police in Dehradun have arrested three members of a gang accused of attempting to extort Rs 25 lakh from a businessman by threatening to implicate him in false criminal cases.
A 30-year-old man was arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly impersonating a CISF officer to deceive a woman and her family into marriage. He used photographs in uniform on social media and matrimonial platforms to falsely project himself as a central government employee.
App-based communication services providers and Indian telcos are at loggerheads over the SIM-binding directions issued by the department of telecom, which are to be complied with by the end of February 2026.
Elvish Yadav, winner of Bigg Boss OTT 2, has reported receiving an extortion threat for Rs 10 crore from an individual claiming ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police have registered an FIR and are investigating the matter.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will soon allow subscribers to withdraw their EPF and transfer it directly to their bank accounts through the UPI payment gateway. Testing of the facility has been completed, according to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
A Delhi court recently acquitted five accused, including an army personnel and a Border Security Force personnel, in an espionage case. While acquitting the accused persons, the court flagged serious lapses in the investigation.
While experts claimed that Patanjali's Swadeshi messaging app was removed form Google Play over security concerns, Kimbho declared that it was removed because of heavy traffic.
The management of Kannur Dental College has refuted allegations of caste discrimination in connection with the death of a BDS student, suggesting a loan taken through a mobile app was a contributing factor. Police are investigating the case, which involves allegations of abetment of suicide and violations of the SC/ST Act.
A woman constable in Mumbai Police was allegedly defrauded of Rs 12.46 lakh after her mobile phone was hacked via an APK file, leading to a personal loan being fraudulently obtained in her name.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a Muslim cleric from Deoband for allegedly sharing inflammatory content on social media and maintaining contacts with individuals in Pakistan.
A software engineer earning a high salary allegedly abandoned his career to run a fake online trading racket, duping investors of nearly Rs 100 crore.
A 78-year-old woman in Mumbai was defrauded of over 25 lakh after a scammer gained access to her mobile phone under the guise of updating her electricity bill details.
Rajasthan Police have issued an advisory warning citizens about potential cyber fraud attempts disguised as part of the ongoing digital census. Scammers may use various methods, including fake calls, messages, and in-person visits, to steal personal and financial information.
With the Department of Telecom asking mobile phone makers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi application in new handsets, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday described it as a 'snooping app' and alleged that the government is turning the country into a dictatorship.
Jharkhand police have uncovered an interstate cyber fraud network and arrested four individuals involved in fraudulent transactions across 24 states. The investigation was initiated following inputs from the Union Home Ministry's 'Samanvaya portal', leading to the discovery of a bank account in Ramgarh district used for the illicit activities.
A 35-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly defrauding over 500 women across India of more than Rs 2 crore through fake social media and dating app profiles.
The Maharashtra government is forming a committee headed by the Director General of Police to address the issue of defamation through social media platforms. The committee will study the issue and suggest measures to take action against those who defame individuals through social media.
Cyber intelligence firm CloudSEK reports that online fraudsters are using a new toolkit called 'Digital Lutera' to bypass security features of UPI apps and carry out fraudulent financial transactions.
Paytm (One 97 Communications Ltd), India's full-stack merchant payments leader serving MSMEs and enterprises, has launched a fully redesigned version of its flagship app, integrating artificial intelligence-driven features to streamline and personalise everyday transactions for its users.
Days after his ministry told smartphone makers to preload a state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said users are free to delete the Sanchar Saathi app, and it will remain dormant till they register on it.
Cyber threats aren't always invisible -- sometimes they're right beside you.
Punjab Police is using intelligence-led policing and digital tools, including AI-powered voice recognition, to combat organised crime and dismantle gangster networks operating across states and continents.
India has launched digital tools for its upcoming fully digital Census 2027, including mobile apps and a self-enumeration portal, aiming for efficient and accurate data collection.
