If crime pays, cybercrime pays bigger: Scammers so rich, they bought chopper

MUMBAI: The stereotypical image of a cybercriminal—a lone hacker in a hoodie, typing away on a laptop—is no longer accurate. Cybercrime has evolved into large-scale operations, resembling factory setups with hundreds of people working together to generate massive revenue, according to Maharashtra's cyber police chief, Yashasvi Yadav. Illustrating the scale of earnings, he said two cybercriminals bought a helicopter last year.
Calling cybercriminals among the world's largest organized crime syndicates, Yadav explained the scale of the challenge India faces, given its 700 million smartphone users. Pointing to Jamtara in Jharkhand, infamous as a cybercrime hub, he said, "Even as we speak, 128 girls are being subjected to cyberbullying and sextortion in India, and this number swells to about 15,000 globally." He said awareness is the best defence against cybercrime, warning that "the internet never forgets"—any content uploaded remains stored on some server, leaving a permanent digital footprint even if deleted.
He was speaking at the launch of the cybercrime helpline 022-65366666, initiated by Brush of Hope in collaboration with Maharashtra Cyber. The initiative was founded by Sheetal Gagrani after her niece lost her life to cyberbullying and sextortion. The accused was arrested.