What is cybercrime?
A Cybercrime is a crime involving computers and networks.
The computer may have been used in the execution of a crime or it may be the target.
Definition of Cyber Crime
Cybercrime may be defined as “Any unlawful act where computer or communication device or computer network is used to commit or facilitate the commission of a crime”.
Two Main Types of Cybercrimes
Most cybercrime falls under two main categories:
• Criminal activity that targets computers.
• Criminal activity that uses computers.
Cybercrime that targets computers often involves malware like viruses.
Cybercrime that uses computers to commit other crimes may involve using computers to spread malware, illegal information or illegal images.
List of Cybercrimes: Examples
Cybercrimes include monetary crimes as well as non-monetary offences.
The crimes result in damage to persons, computers, or governments.
1. Child Pornography OR Child sexually abusive material (CSAM)
Child sexually abusive material (CSAM) refers to a material containing sexual images in any form, of a child who is abused or sexually exploited. Section 67 (B) of the IT Act states that “it is punishable for publishing or transmitting of material depicting children in the sexually explicit act, etc. in electronic form.
2. Cyber Bullying
A form of harassment or bullying inflicted through the use of electronic or communication devices such as computers, mobile phones, laptops, etc.
3. Cyber Stalking
Cyberstalking is the use of electronic communication by a person to follow a person, or attempts to contact a person to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such person; or monitors the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication commits the offence of stalking.
Cyber Grooming
Cyber Grooming is when a person builds an online relationship with a young person and tricks or pressures him/ her into doing a sexual act.
5. Online Job Fraud
Online Job Fraud is an attempt to defraud people who are in need of employment by giving them false hope/ promise of better employment with higher wages.
6. Online Sextortion
Online Sextortion occurs when someone threatens to distribute private and sensitive material using an electronic medium if he/ she doesn’t provide images of a sexual nature, sexual favours, or money.
7. Phishing
Phishing is a type of fraud that involves stealing personal information such as Customer ID, IPIN, Credit/Debit Card number, Card expiry date, CVV number, etc. through emails that appear to be from a legitimate source.
8. Vishing
Vishing is an attempt where fraudsters try to seek personal information like Customer ID, Net Banking password, ATM PIN, OTP, Card expiry date, CVV etc. through a phone call.
9. Smishing
Smishing is a type of fraud that uses mobile phone text messages to lure victims into calling back on a fraudulent phone number, visiting fraudulent websites or downloading malicious content via phone or web.
10. Sexting
Sexting is an act of sending sexually explicit digital images, videos, text messages, or emails, usually by cell phone.
11. SIM Swap Scam
SIM Swap Scam occurs when fraudsters manage to get a new SIM card issued against a registered mobile number fraudulently through the mobile service provider. With the help of this new SIM card, they get One Time Password (OTP) and alerts, required for making financial transactions through the victim’s bank account. Getting a new SIM card against a registered mobile number fraudulently is known as SIM Swap.
12. Credit Card Fraud or Debit Card Fraud
Credit card (or debit card) fraud involves the unauthorized use of another’s credit or debit card information for the purpose of purchases or withdrawing funds from it.
13. Impersonation and identity theft
Impersonation and identity theft is an act of fraudulently or dishonestly making use of the electronic signature, password or any other unique identification feature of any other person.
14. Spamming
Spamming occurs when someone receives an unsolicited commercial message sent via email, SMS, MMS and any other similar electronic messaging media. They may try to persuade the recipient to buy a product or service, or visit a website where he can make purchases, or they may attempt to trick him/ her into divulging bank account or credit card details.
15. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of computer malware that encrypts the files, storage media on communication devices like desktops, Laptops, Mobile phones etc., holding data/information as a hostage. The victim is asked to pay the demanded ransom to get his device decrypts
16. Viruses, Worms, and Trojans
A computer virus is a program written to enter your computer and damage/alter your files/data and replicate itself.
Worms are malicious programs that make copies of themselves again and again on the local drive, network shares, etc.
A Trojan horse is not a virus. It is a destructive program that looks like a genuine application. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses do not replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive. Trojans open a backdoor entry to your computer which gives malicious users/programs access to your system, allowing confidential and personal information to be theft.
17. Data Breach
A data breach is an incident in which information is accessed without authorization.
18. Denial of Services (DoS) attack
A denial of Services (DoS) attack is an attack intended for denying access to computer resources without the permission of the owner or any other person who is in charge of a computer, computer system or computer network.
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is an attempt to make an online service unavailable by overwhelming it with traffic from multiple sources.
19. Website Defacement
Website Defacement is an attack intended to change the visual appearance of a website and/ or make it dysfunctional. The attacker may post indecent, hostile and obscene images, messages, videos, etc.
20. Cyber-Squatting
Cyber-Squatting is an act of registering, trafficking in or using a domain name with an intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else.
21. Pharming
Pharming is a cyber-attack aiming to redirect a website’s traffic to another, bogus website.
22. Cryptojacking
Cryptojacking is the unauthorized use of computing resources to mine cryptocurrencies.
23. Online Drug Trafficking
Online Drug Trafficking is a crime of selling, transporting, or illegally importing unlawful controlled substances, such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, or other illegal drugs using electronic means.
24. Espionage
Espionage is the act or practice of obtaining data and information without the permission and knowledge of the owner.
How to file a Cybercrime complaint online in India?
A cybercrime complaint can be filed using the National Crime Reporting Portal of India.
Website link is – https://cybercrime.gov.in/
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal of India
This portal is an initiative of the Government of India to facilitate victims/ complainants to report cybercrime complaints online.
This portal caters for all types of cybercrime complaints including complaints pertaining to
• online Child Pornography (CP),
• Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM),
• sexually explicit content such as Rape/Gang Rape (CP/RGR) content and
• other cybercrimes such as mobile crimes, online and social media crimes, online financial frauds, ransomware, hacking, cryptocurrency crimes and online cyber trafficking.
The portal also provides an option of reporting an anonymous complaint about reporting online Child Pornography (CP) or sexually explicit content such as Rape/Gang Rape (RGR) content.
Cybercrime Helpline Number
The Cyber Crime Helpline Number is 1530.
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN or ICERT)
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN or ICERT) is an office within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India.
CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur. CERT-In is operational since January 2004.
CERT-In has been designated to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security:
• Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.
• Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents.
• Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents.
• Coordination of cyber incident response activities.
• Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents.
• Such other functions relating to cyber security may be prescribed.
CERT-IN has overlapping responsibilities with other agencies such as National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC).
Cyber Laws in India.
Information Technology Act 2000 (IT Act 2000) is the main law connected with cyber security in India.
Indian Penal Code, 1860 is also used to book criminals connected with cybercrimes.
India also has a cyber security policy.
