Centre Launches ‘DIP’ And ‘Chakshu’ Platforms To Curb Cybercrime, Financial Fraud

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched its ‘Digital Intelligence Platform’ (DIP) and ‘Chakshu’ facility to combat cybercrime and financial fraud.

DIP developed by the DoT is a secure and integrated platform for real time intelligence sharing, information exchange and coordination among the stakeholders i.e. Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), law enforcement agencies (LEAs), banks and financial institutions (FIs), social media platforms, identity document issuing authorities etc.

The portal also contains information regarding the cases detected as misuse of telecom resources. The DIP is accessible to the stakeholders over secure connectivity and the relevant information is shared based on their respective roles. However, it is not accessible to citizens.

Chakshu facilitates citizens to report suspected fraud communication received over call, SMS or WhatsApp such as claiming KYC expiration, requesting updates to bank accounts, payment wallets, SIM cards, gas, or electricity connections, sextortion, impersonation of government officials or relatives for monetary requests, or false claims of disconnection by the Department of Telecommunications.

At the launch event, union telecom and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted about the government’s ongoing efforts to combat cyber frauds through the Secure India project, operating at three levels: National, Organisational, and Individual. He underlined the DoT’s initiatives aimed at raising awareness, enabling citizens to utilise tools to address grievances and safeguard themselves against cyber fraud.

Specifically, he mentioned the “Sanchar Saathi” portal, which has proven effective in combating such attacks. With the addition of today’s two portals – DIP and Chakshu – he expressed confidence that these tools would significantly bolster the capacity and capability to counter any cyber security threats.

Earlier Minister of Communications Devusinh Chauhan said that the Indian government disconnected 5.5 Mn phone numbers obtained using false documents, following a nationwide verification campaign initiated through the “Sanchar Saathi” portal.

Last year, the Department of Telecom issued an advisory regarding calls threatening people with disconnection of their mobile services. The DoT, responsible for overseeing telecom services in the country, cautioned citizens about a rise in malicious calls wherein individuals are informed that their mobile numbers will be disconnected within two hours by the DoT.