Govt to use AI to track mule accounts in cyber fraud cases: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the government has devised a plan to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to detect and shut down “mule accounts” before they become operational for laundering money through cyber fraud. Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for MHA on ‘Cyber Security and Cyber Crime’, in New Delhi, Shah highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s digital infrastructure, which has led to a rise in cyber threats. He emphasized the need to address cyber fraud through a comprehensive approach involving software, services, and user awareness.  The union minister underscored that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Ministry of Home Affairs has implemented several measures to strengthen India’s cybersecurity framework.  
Shah described cybercrime as a “borderless” and “formless” threat that transcends geographical boundaries. He stressed the importance of collaboration between key institutions, including the Ministry of Electronics and IT, and departments such as Telecom and Banking, in combating cyber threats. He urged committee members to promote the I4C helpline number 1930, which offers services like blocking fraudulent transactions to counter cyber financial fraud. 
Shah also underlined efforts to leverage Artificial Intelligence for identifying mule accounts in coordination with the Reserve Bank of India and other banks, aiming to prevent their misuse before they become operational. He reiterated the government’s commitment to raising awareness about cyber threats through Prime Minister Modi’s “STOP-THINK-TAKE ACTION” initiative.  
The home minister provided key statistics on cybersecurity initiatives, noting that 1.43 lakh FIRs have been registered on the I4C portal, with over 19 crore users accessing the platform. Based on I4C’s recommendations, 805 apps and 3,266 website links have been blocked for national security reasons.  Additionally, 399 banks and financial intermediaries have joined efforts to curb cyber fraud, leading to the identification of over 19 lakh mule accounts and the prevention of suspicious transactions worth Rs2,038 crore.