WhatsApp Tips- The Indian government locked 17 thousands WhatsApp accounts, know the reason
As we all know WhatsApp is the world's most popular instant messaging app, which has more than 3 billion users. With the increasing popularity of WhatsApp, cyber crimes have also wreaked havoc in the lives of people. Under this, more than 17,000 WhatsApp accounts linked to hackers operating from Southeast Asia have been blocked. These hackers are targeting Indian citizens through a variety of fraudulent schemes including fake investment offers, online games, dating apps, and deceptive trading platforms.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) and the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) jointly announced the decision to block malicious accounts, which is a major setback for the growing network of cyber criminals. The move comes after investigations revealed that a large number of cyber crimes in India are being committed by individuals based in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Laos.
Cyberdost, the official cybersecurity handle of the Home Ministry, confirmed the government's action in a statement on Twitter (formerly Twitter). The notification said that the blocked WhatsApp accounts were linked to criminals who were involved in defrauding Indians.
Growing threat of cybercrime from Southeast Asia
In May 2024, the Indian Home Ministry formed an inquiry committee after a surge in cybercrime cases linked to Southeast Asia. The investigation revealed that about 45% of all cybercrime cases reported in India were linked to criminal networks in these countries.