S.No.
Offence
Description of Offence
Offence under Section of IT Act
Personal Data Collection
Stage of Commission of Initial Offence
1
SIM Swap Fraud
Fraudsters impersonate individuals to gain control of their mobile numbers and bypass two-factor authentication.
Section 66 (Hacking), Section 66C (Identity Theft)
Yes, mobile number, possibly linked financial details
At the time of data collection (e.g., mobile details)
2
Tech Support Scams
Fake tech support call centres impersonate legitimate companies and steal financial data or install malware.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, remote access, personal & financial data
At the time of interaction
3
Fake Loan or Job Scams
Scammers offer fake loans or jobs, collecting personal details for fraud or identity theft.
Section 66C (Identity Theft), Section 66D (Cheating)
Yes, Aadhaar, bank details, and personal information
At the time of data collection (loan/job applications)
4
Online Shopping Fraud
Fake e-commerce websites collect credit card information and either fail to deliver goods or send counterfeit items.
Section 66 (Hacking), Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, credit card, financial and personal details
At the time of making a purchase or registration
5
Phishing Attacks
Fraudsters impersonate trusted entities to steal login credentials and financial details.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, bank details, login credentials
Display of website for collecting information
6
Ransomware Attacks
Cybercriminals lock data on devices and demand ransom for decryption keys.
Section 66 (Hacking)
Yes, encrypted files, personal data on device
At the time of accessing data
7
Fake Charity Scams
Fraudsters create fake charity campaigns and steal personal data while collecting donations.
Section 66 (Hacking), Section 66C (Identity Theft)
Yes, donation details, personal information
At the time of advertising for donation and collection
8
Fake Real Estate Scams
Fraudsters offer non-existent properties for investment, collecting payments and disappearing.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, payment details, personal info for contracts
At the time of advertising for purchase and collection
9
Fake Travel and Holiday Scams
Fraudsters offer low-priced vacation packages, taking upfront payments and failing to deliver services.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, personal and payment details for booking
After booking or payment is made
10
Social Media Impersonation & Romance Scams
Fraudsters create fake profiles to manipulate victims into sending money or sharing personal information.
Section 66C (Identity Theft), Section 66D (Cheating)
Yes, personal details and financial information
At the time of creating profile, interaction or when money is requested
11
Data Harvesting and Selling
Fraudulent businesses collect personal data via surveys, fake apps, or websites and sell it without consent.
Section 43 (Damage to Computer Systems), Section 66 (Hacking)
Yes, via surveys or apps
At the time of data collection (without consent)
12
Fake Software and Antivirus Scams
Fake software/antivirus programs are sold, stealing personal data or installing malware.
Section 66 (Hacking), Section 66D (Cheating)
Yes, installation process, personal data on devices
After installation and access to device data
13
Fake Investment Schemes
Fraudulent schemes promise unrealistic returns, using collected money for fraudulent purposes.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, investment details and personal information
After the victim invests or provides personal details
14
Fraudulent SMS and Email Promotions
Fraudsters send fake promotional offers to steal personal details or payment info by redirecting victims to fake sites.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, personal and payment details
After the victim interacts or submits details
15
Fake Mobile App Scams
Fraudulent mobile apps collect personal data or install malware on devices.
Section 66 (Hacking), Section 66D (Cheating)
Yes, app permissions, user data
At the time of app installation or data collection
16
Fake Online Reviews and Ratings
Posting fake reviews to mislead consumers into making purchases based on fabricated feedback.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
No significant personal data involved
At the time of posting reviews
17
SMS Spoofing
Fraudsters spoof SMS sender IDs to impersonate banks and trick victims into disclosing sensitive personal details.
Section 66C (Identity Theft), Section 66D (Cheating)
Yes, banking info or login credentials
After the spoofed message is sent and the victim responds
18
Fake Job Offers on Job Portals
Fake job offers on platforms like LinkedIn or Naukri collect personal details or “joining fees”.
Section 66C (Identity Theft), Section 66D (Cheating)
Yes, personal details (e.g., resume, bank info)
At the time of job application submission
19
Fake Document Services
Fraudsters offer fake document services, taking payment upfront without delivering valid documents.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, personal and document-related data
After payment and data collection for documentation
20
Fake Debt Relief & Credit Repair Scams
Scammers promise debt relief or credit repair and disappear after taking fees.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, personal financial details
After the victim provides financial details
21
Fake Health & Wellness Products
Fake products are sold under health and wellness brands, collecting personal details during purchase.
Section 66C (Identity Theft), Section 66D (Cheating)
Yes, health-related and payment details
At the time of purchase or subscription
22
Fake Dating Scams
Fraudsters create fake dating profiles, establish fake relationships, and then ask for money or “emergency” help.
Section 66C (Identity Theft), Section 66D (Cheating)
Yes, personal and financial info
After emotional manipulation or money request
23
Fake Lottery or Prize Wins
Fraudsters notify victims of fake lottery wins, asking for money or sensitive information to “process” the prize.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, personal information for claiming prize
After the victim shares personal data or payment
24
Fake Shipping or Delivery Scams
Fraudsters send fake shipping notifications asking for personal details or payments for supposed fees.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, shipping and payment details
After notification and data request
25
Fake Prize Draws or Giveaways
Fraudulent prize draws or giveaways ask victims to pay or provide data to claim non-existent prizes.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, personal and payment information
After the victim shares personal data or payment
26
Fake Tax Refund Scams
Fraudsters impersonate tax authorities to steal personal and financial information under the pretence of processing a refund.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, financial details (bank information, PAN)
After the victim shares sensitive financial details
27
Fake Ticketing Scams
Fraudsters offer discounted event or travel tickets and disappear once payments are made.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, payment and personal information
After payment and ticket request
28
Fake Domain & Website Registration Scams
Fraudulent companies promise domain or website registration at low prices but deliver nothing.
Section 66D (Cheating by Impersonation)
Yes, domain registration details (e.g., personal data)
At the time of payment for registration