Tackling fraud: ‘FB and X need to do better’

In the fourth part of our series on social media hacking and identity theft cases, mid-day interviewed Joint Commissioner of Crime, Lakhmi Gautam, who also heads the cyber department of the Mumbai Police. In the interview, he emphasised the importance of precautionary measures and the awareness efforts undertaken by Mumbai Police's cyber cell. According to him, due diligence and awareness are key to safeguarding oneself from cyber fraud and social media hacking. Here are some excerpts from the interview.

What measures are the police implementing to combat the increasing incidents of social media hacking in the city?
To combat increasing incidents of social media hacking, we (Mumbai police) have organised seminars/workshops, and awareness programs at schools, colleges, corporate offices, etc to educate the public about ongoing cybercrime frauds such as investment fraud, part-time job fraud, dating app/matrimonial fraud, sextortion, FedEx courier fraud, etc. Under the Mumbai Safe City Project, the police have acquired different types of cyber forensic tools, including social media investigation tools. We are in the process of training Cyber Commandos for the prevention and detection of cybercrime cases. A social media lab has been established by the Mumbai police to track and provide analysis, identify behavioural patterns, and to generate alerts in real-time on social media platforms.

What challenges do the police encounter when investigating cyber fraud cases? Do social media intermediaries cooperate, or is it difficult to obtain details from them?
Intermediaries are legally bound to share information with law enforcement agencies under the Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code 2021. Although they generally comply, there remains room for improvement in terms of response time.

Experts have recommended using AI methodologies to combat hacking attempts

How does the police plan to raise awareness among citizens about the risks of social media hacking and identity theft?
Mumbai police have made short videos, and posters in public places. We are collaborating with various NGOs, corporate firms, and celebrities to make them part of our awareness campaign. We recommend strong passwords, two two-factor authentication (2FA) to social media users and appeal to them to never click on any suspicious links shared by unknown persons. Don't store passwords in browser settings on devices that they don't own. If any victim or complainant is prey to such incidents kindly immediately call us on cyber helpline 1930 or NCCR Portal or register a complaint at the nearest police station.

Are there any specific areas within Mumbai that are more vulnerable to these cybercrime?
No, no such area in Mumbai is more vulnerable to these cybercrimes. Everyone needs to take precautions it can happen to anyone anywhere.

What collaborations or partnerships has the police established with tech companies to address these challenges effectively?
The police have collaborated with State Bank of India (SBI), Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bank of Baroda, and other NGOs. We've also prepared video/audio clips, and slogans to reach out to the city's population.

How do the police prioritise and allocate resources to investigate and prosecute cybercrime cases?
The police have given priority to cybercrime wherein inappropriate videos, photographs of women and children, and issues relating to communal disturbance are involved. Such types of cases are dealt with on a priority basis and resources allocated to these cases vary from case to case.

How to prevent hacking
>> Maintain strong and unique passwords.
>> Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
>> Strong antivirus
>> Never click on suspicious links

How to prevent ID theft
>> Don't share KYC documents unnecessarily.
>> Be discreet on social networks.
>> Strong antivirus
>> Never click on suspicious links
>> Keep tabs on your financial statements
>> Don't fall prey to pre-approved credit