Cyber Threats to Digital Peace in India: Fake LPG Gas Scams, Malicious Links, and Online Financial Fraud
Authored by:
Adv. Kavita N. Solunke, BA, BSL, LLM, MBA, GDC&A, PG (ADR), Star CCIO; Additional Government Pleader, Arbitrator, Mediator, Bombay High Court; Notary, Government of India
Abstract
India’s digital transformation has expanded financial inclusion, improved access to public services, and created one of the world’s largest digital-payment ecosystems. At the same time, it has produced new opportunities for organised cyber-criminals who exploit human psychology as effectively as they exploit technology. This paper examines the convergence of cyberbully tactics with online financial fraud in India, focusing on fake LPG gas subsidy scams, malicious links, phishing messages, fraudulent mobile applications, OTP theft, QR-code deception, and remote-access fraud. The paper argues that financial cybercrime in India is no longer merely a technical problem. Fraudsters increasingly use fear, false urgency, authority impersonation, emotional coercion, and false hope tactics traditionally associated with cyber bullying to induce victims to surrender money or sensitive credentials. The fake LPG scam is an important example because it exploits citizens’ trust in oil marketing companies, government welfare schemes, and routine cylinder-booking processes. Using recent developments from 2024 to 2026, including LPG booking scams, digital-arrest fraud, AI-enabled deep fake investment fraud, voice-cloning scams, and the WazirX cryptocurrency hack, the paper analyses the changing architecture of cyber-enabled financial crime. It also examines national cybercrime trends, including the reported 28.15 lakh cyber-fraud complaints and ₹22,495 crore in reported losses in 2025. The paper concludes that protecting digital peace requires a coordinated response involving citizens, banks, oil marketing companies, telecommunications providers, technology platforms, law-enforcement agencies, and policymakers.
Keywords: Cyberbullying, financial fraud, LPG scam, phishing, smishing, vishing, UPI fraud, digital arrest, deepfake, cybercrime, Digital India; NCRP, Helpline 1930, RBI; cybersecurity.
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