India: Surprising Cybercrime Ranking Unveiled

In New Delhi, India’s standing in the realm of cybercrime has reached the 10th position globally, as highlighted by an international consortium of cybercrime experts. The most prevalent cyber offenses in India revolve around advance fee schemes, according to the new ‘World Cybercrime Index’ research. This index categorizes approximately 100 nations based on various cybercrime genres, including ransomware, card fraudulence, and deceptive schemes.

Topping the index is Russia, followed by Ukraine, China, the United States, Nigeria, and Romania. North Korea secured the seventh spot, with the United Kingdom and Brazil taking the eighth and ninth ranks, respectively. These insights, as published in the journal PLoS ONE, stem from a comprehensive study where experts evaluated significant cybercrimes worldwide and identified the most impactful nations in each category.

The study pinpointed major categories such as advanced malware and system breaches; hostile and coercive acts including ransomware; data and identity exploitation including account hacking and card fraud; deceptive schemes such as advance fee cons; and unauthorized virtual currency transactions.

Invitations to partake in the survey were disseminated from March to October 2021, garnering 92 fully completed responses. The findings indicate a pattern of specialization among the top countries, with the top six consistently appearing in each cybercrime category.

“Russia and Ukraine excel in highly technical cybercrime, while Nigerian offenders favor less complex methods,” the authors revealed. Notably, some top countries lean towards moderately technical crimes like data and identity theft, while others embrace a blend of high and low-tech offenses.

India’s specialization in deceptive schemes is notable, earning it recognition as a “balanced hub” skilled in medium-tech cybercrimes. Romania and the U.S. similarly bridge high and low-tech offenses. “In essence, each nation presents a distinct cybercrime profile, showcasing a unique local dimension,” the authors stated.

Co-author Miranda Bruce from the University of Oxford in the UK remarked on the profound comprehension of cybercrime geography, emphasizing the nuances of country-specific specializations. This “intensive” three-year exploration seeks to dispel the shroud of anonymity shrouding cyber offenders, with the aspiration of bolstering efforts against the surge in profit-driven cybercrime.

The experts engaged in the study were veterans in cybercrime intelligence and attribution for over five years, upholding high reputations among their peers while not actively pursuing offenders.