The Dark Truth of Cybercrime in India

In India, many individuals participate in betting games and invest in trading, cryptocurrency, and other online ventures. However, a growing number of them are now facing the serious issue of having their bank accounts frozen due to involvement—real or perceived—in these activities.

The Cybersecurity team in India, through its Cybercrime Department, has reportedly been freezing bank accounts without sufficient evidence. As a result, many innocent people are becoming victims of these unjust actions. Alarmingly, accounts are being frozen for lien amounts as small as ₹500 or ₹600. While some betting games and investment platforms may indeed be linked to money laundering, if that is truly the case, the government should take strict measures to ban these platforms. Instead, the government continues to collect taxes from them while doing little to resolve the underlying issues.

Unfortunately, it’s the common citizens—those who work hard to earn an honest living—who suffer the most. Their bank accounts are being frozen without proper justification, causing severe financial distress. Attempts to contact the Cybercrime Department for help often go unanswered. Emails and phone calls are ignored. To make matters worse, there are growing reports that some Cybercrime officers are demanding bribes. Why should innocent people have to pay money just to clear their names? In some cases, where the lien amount is as low as ₹2,000, officers are allegedly demanding as much as ₹30,000 for a resolution.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this situation is the lack of intervention by the government. Why isn’t the government taking action? Why aren’t media outlets covering these critical issues that affect so many innocent citizens?

The Layer System: How Bank Accounts Are Frozen

Bank accounts are being frozen based on what is informally known as the “7 Layer System.” This system is used by authorities to categorize the degree of involvement an individual may have in a financial scam. Unfortunately, this broad classification can sometimes implicate innocent individuals.

1. Layer 1: Direct Recipient of Scammed Money

These are individuals who directly receive funds from a scam. Their accounts are the first to be frozen.

2. Layer 2: Third Parties Involved in Transactions

These individuals may act as intermediaries, knowingly or unknowingly helping to transfer funds. They are also at high risk of having their accounts frozen.

3. Layer 3: Fund Transfer Chains

This layer involves those who transfer money across multiple accounts. Even if they weren’t aware of the scam, their involvement in moving the money makes them targets.

4. Layer 4: Linked Accounts

Accounts connected to known scammers—through shared phone numbers, IP addresses, or other identifiers—can be flagged and frozen.

5. Layer 5: Friends or Relatives of Scammers

Family members or friends whose accounts are used by the scammer, even without their knowledge, may also face account freezing.

6. Layer 6: Unwitting Participants

These individuals may have unknowingly participated in a scam. For example, they might have transferred money under the assumption it was a legitimate transaction.

7. Layer 7: Innocent Bystanders

This is the most troubling layer. These individuals have no involvement in any scam but may get flagged due to indirect or accidental connections with someone under investigation.

Why Is the “7 Layer System” So Controversial?

The main problem with this system is that it often targets innocent people who have no real connection to any scam. Their accounts are frozen without solid evidence, leaving them financially and emotionally devastated.

Meanwhile, actual scammers often bribe corrupt officials and quickly get bail, while innocent individuals remain trapped in legal uncertainty. In many cases, corrupt officers exploit the situation by demanding bribes from people who simply want their accounts unfrozen.

The system lacks transparency, accountability, and a proper mechanism for review—leaving citizens frustrated, confused, and helpless.

Conclusion

It’s time the government takes urgent action to fix this broken system and protect innocent citizens. Freezing bank accounts without due process is a violation of basic rights. Cybercrime must be tackled with integrity, fairness, and transparency—not with corruption and negligence.

Shame on those who abuse their power, and shame on those in authority who turn a blind eye to the suffering of ordinary people.