Diksia.com - India is one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the world, with over 800 million internet users and 1.2 billion mobile subscribers. The country has witnessed a surge in online transactions, e-commerce, digital payments, and social media platforms in recent years. However, this digital boom also comes with a dark side: cybercrime.
One of the most prevalent forms of cybercrime in India is phishing, which involves tricking unsuspecting users into revealing their personal or financial information through fraudulent calls, emails, or messages. According to a report by IBM, India ranked second in the world in terms of phishing attacks in 2020, accounting for 7% of the global share.
While phishing is a global phenomenon, there is a unique twist to it in India: the involvement of young men from small towns and villages, who operate large-scale phishing rackets from their homes, using cheap smartphones and SIM cards. One such place is Jamtara, a district in the eastern state of Jharkhand, which has earned the dubious distinction of being the phishing capital of India.
Jamtara Trailer
Jamtara: The Phishing Capital of India
Jamtara is a remote and underdeveloped district, with a population of about 800,000 people. It has poor infrastructure, low literacy, high unemployment, and rampant poverty. However, it also has a thriving underground industry of phishing, which has made some of its residents rich and powerful.
The phishing scam in Jamtara is simple but effective. The young men, mostly in their teens or early twenties, call random people across the country, posing as bank officials, customer care executives, or online retailers.
They use social engineering techniques to persuade their targets to share their bank account details, debit or credit card numbers, PINs, or OTPs (one-time passwords). They then use this information to transfer money from the victims’ accounts to their own, or to buy goods or services online.
The scamsters operate in groups, known as “gangs”, which are led by a “mastermind” or a “boss”. Each gang has a network of “runners”, who collect SIM cards, bank accounts, and e-wallets for the scam. The gangs also have links with local politicians, police officers, and criminals, who provide them protection, patronage, and money laundering services.
According to some estimates, Jamtara accounts for more than 50% of the phishing cases in India, and the annual turnover of the scam is around Rs. 200 crore (about $27 million) The scam has also spread to other parts of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, where Jamtara-based gangs have set up their branches or franchises.
Jamtara: The Netflix Series
The story of Jamtara’s phishing scam has been brought to the screen by Netflix, in a web series titled Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega (Jamtara: Everyone’s Number Will Come). The series, created and directed by Soumendra Padhi and written by Trishant Srivastava, is a fictionalized account of the real-life events, based on extensive research and interviews with the people involved.
The series follows the lives of Sunny and Rocky, two cousins and masterminds of a phishing gang, who run a successful operation from their village in Jamtara. Their fortunes change when they cross paths with Brajesh Bhan, a corrupt local politician who wants a share of their business, and Dolly Sahu, a newly appointed police superintendent who wants to crack down on the scam.
The series also explores the personal and professional struggles of the other characters, such as Gudiya, Sunny’s girlfriend and aspiring politician, Anas, Rocky’s friend and rival, and Biswa, a honest but helpless inspector.
The series has received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of the phishing phenomenon, its gripping narrative, its nuanced characters, and its stellar performances. The series has also raised awareness about the issue of cybercrime and its impact on the society.
The series has two seasons, with 10 episodes in the first season and 8 episodes in the second season. The first season was released on Netflix on 10 January 2020, and the second season premiered on 23 September 2022
Jamtara: The Lessons and Challenges
Jamtara is not just a web series, but a mirror of the dark side of India’s digital boom. It exposes the vulnerabilities of the online users, the loopholes of the banking system, the corruption of the political and law enforcement agencies, and the socio-economic factors that drive the young men to resort to crime.
The series also offers some lessons and challenges for the stakeholders involved. For the online users, it is a reminder to be vigilant and cautious while dealing with unknown callers, emails, or messages, and to verify the authenticity of the sources before sharing any personal or financial information.
For the banking system, it is a wake-up call to improve the security and privacy of the online transactions, and to educate and empower the customers about the risks and remedies of cyber fraud. For the political and law enforcement agencies, it is a challenge to curb the menace of phishing and other cybercrimes, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
For the young men of Jamtara and other similar places, it is an opportunity to explore alternative and legitimate ways of earning a livelihood, and to use their skills and talents for the betterment of themselves and their communities.
Jamtara is a story of crime and punishment, of greed and ambition, of hope and despair, of power and resistance. It is a story that reflects the realities and complexities of the digital age, and the choices and consequences that come with it. It is a story that deserves to be watched, understood, and acted upon.
