Cases of cyber fraud are no longer limited to transferring lakhs and crores of rupees into accounts through threats and digital arrest, but people are also losing their lives due to the fear of false threats received on phone. The incident of the death of a teacher in Agra has shocked everyone. The government is serious about cyber fraud and digital arrest and the police is also alert, but are the existing laws capable of dealing with them?

What do the government figures say?

Experts do not consider the existing laws to be sufficient to deal with these. They say that to deal with cyber crime, there is a need to bring a strict law dedicated to it so that people develop fear of crime and it can be curbed.

The details of cyber fraud complaints and the amount defrauded presented by the government in Parliament on February 6 show that from January 1 to December 31, 2023, a total of 11,28,265 complaints of cyber fraud were registered across the country in which a total of Rs 7,48,863.9 lakh was defrauded. While Rs 92,159.56 lakh was frozen. 3,19,799 complaints are still on hold. These figures show the seriousness of cyber fraud.

What is digital arrest?

Earlier people were duped by just sending links on phone, SMS, Whatsapp or email, but now cyber thugs have found a new way of digital arrest in which a person is always connected on video chat in his own house and money is transferred from his account by scaring him of being sent to jail through fake police and fake court order. By the time he understands that he has been duped, the transferred amount is withdrawn and the phone numbers are switched off.

Existing laws are not enough

On the capability of existing laws to deal with cyber crimes, cyber crime expert and lawyer Pawan Duggal says that existing laws are not sufficient to deal with them. At present, the crimes are bailable and the punishment is light, which does not create fear of crime. The current IT Act provides for a punishment of up to three years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. The crime is bailable.

India has become a laboratory of cyber crime!

Some provisions have been added in the Indian Judicial Code (BNS), in which electronic fraud is punishable with up to seven years of imprisonment. The amount of punishment is not sufficient. He says that India has become a laboratory of cyber crime. Artificial intelligence is also being used in crime. In such a situation, there is a need to bring a comprehensive strategy and a separate strict law to deal with cyber crime. In which there should be a system of settlement of the case within a stipulated time along with strict punishment.

It is important to instill fear in criminals

Right now the conviction rate in cyber crime is less than one percent. There is no deterrence element in the current law. This does not create fear in criminals. Along with having a strict law, it is important to send the message that punishment will be given so that people develop fear of crime. If a separate law is not made then the current law should be amended effectively. Along with making the law strict, the service provider will also have to be made responsible, only then it will be curbed.