In a stark reminder of the perils lurking in the digital world, cyber law advocate Pavan Duggal recently painted a worrying picture of India's escalating cybercrime landscape. During a Times of India Townhall event in New Delhi on Saturday, Duggal engaged a concerned audience, revealing how ordinary citizens are losing life savings to increasingly sophisticated online predators.
From Thousands to Crores: The Alarming Escalation of Cyber Losses
The session, attended by senior citizens, women, and even children, began with a simple yet revealing question from Duggal: who has lost money online? One hand after another went up, confirming a widespread fear. Duggal assured the attendees they were not alone, sharing chilling real-world cases that illustrated the scale of the problem.
He narrated the story of a 72-year-old company director who was swindled out of nearly Rs 9 crore in an elaborate investment scam. The fraud began with a persuasive phone call asking, "Why invest in FD or mutual funds when you can get 16% profit per week?" Starting with small investments between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50 lakh, the man received promised returns, building his trust. This false sense of security led him to liquidate all his fixed deposits to invest more, only to realize too late that he had been conned.
Duggal explained that financial losses from cybercrime have grown exponentially, moving from thousands to lakhs and now routinely reaching crores. He highlighted a particularly tragic case of a 65-year-old senior criminal lawyer who, after being cheated of his life's savings, took his own life. The lawyer could not bear the irony that despite practicing criminal law for decades, he fell victim to such fraud.
New Laws, New Threats: Digital Arrest and Deepfake Deception
The cyber expert detailed how criminals are quick to exploit legal changes and technological advancements. With the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in 2024, scammers invented non-existent clauses to threaten victims with "digital arrest," paralysing them with fear of fake legal action. Duggal drew a parallel to the Covid-19 pandemic, noting how the fear instilled during that period is still weaponized by criminals to trap people.
He warned that online criminals are becoming smarter by the day, with new scams emerging constantly. Contrary to the belief that victims are chosen randomly, Duggal emphasized that scammers often profile their targets meticulously before striking.
This was horrifyingly demonstrated through examples involving deepfake technology. In one instance, a man received a video of his wife—looking and sounding exactly like her—pleading for help. In another, a father was extorted for Rs 15 lakh as ransom after receiving a deepfake video of his daughter appearing to be kidnapped. He later discovered she was safe at school the entire time.
Building Cyber Resilience: Habits for a Safer Digital Life
Duggal urged the public to cultivate daily habits of suspicion and caution online. His key warnings included:
- Avoid oversharing on social media, remembering that "the internet never forgets." A 15-year-old student present noted this lesson on digital boundaries resonated most with her.
- Be wary of overdependence on AI tools and careless downloading of apps that seek unnecessary permissions.
- Exercise extreme caution when making online payments.
- Report any cybercrime immediately through official channels like the national cybercrime portal.
Cybercriminals primarily target money and personal data, which can either grant direct access to funds or be monetized by others on the dark web, Duggal explained. The atmosphere at the townhall was charged with concern as attendees shared their own close calls, each story underscoring the hidden risks in everyday digital activities.
Following the session, a group of senior citizens gathered around ACP Anil Sharma to seek further clarity, highlighting the urgent need for such awareness initiatives. As technology evolves, so do the threats, making public vigilance and education the first line of defense in the fight against cyber fraud.
