Country-Specific Threats, Scams & Resources
The scam that targets someone in Mumbai looks different from the one targeting someone in Manchester. The law that protects you depends on where you are. So does the number you call.
The Wrong Helpline
Priya lost Rs 4.2 lakh to a digital arrest scam in February 2024.
The caller said she was linked to a money laundering case. He had her Aadhaar number. He used official-sounding language and a fake police ID. He kept her on video call for six hours.
After it was over, she searched online for where to report it.
She found three different numbers, two of which had been discontinued.
She eventually reached the right portal - cybercrime.gov.in - on day three. The 24-hour window for UPI reversal had closed 60 hours earlier.
The scam was not the only thing that failed her. The information about what to do next was not where she needed it.
This section exists to fix that. Each module covers the scams most active in a specific region, the laws that apply, and the exact contacts to use - before something happens.
Why Location Matters
$1.03 trillion
estimated global cybercrime losses in 2024.
The methods, legal remedies, and recovery paths differ dramatically by country. Knowing the right local path is the difference between a recoverable loss and a permanent one.
Source: Cybersecurity Ventures / Annual Cybercrime Report, 20257,000+ Cybercrime Cases Daily
India's National Cybercrime Reporting Portal received over 2.5 million complaints in 2023, with financial fraud accounting for the majority. Digital arrest scams alone caused losses exceeding Rs 1,750 crore in H1 2024.
$12.5 Billion Lost to Internet Crime
The FBI IC3 received 880,418 complaints in 2023, with total losses of $12.5 billion. Investment fraud and BEC (Business Email Compromise) drove the highest losses. Only an estimated 15% of victims report.
APP Fraud Reimbursement Now Mandatory in UK
From October 2024, UK banks must reimburse Authorised Push Payment fraud victims up to £85,000. Australia's Scamwatch reported AUD $2.74 billion in scam losses in 2023 - a 13% rise year-on-year.
Migrant Workers - The Highest-Risk Group
Fake recruitment agencies defraud an estimated 200,000 migrant workers annually across Southeast Asia and the Gulf. Mobile-first economies create additional exposure to SIM swap, mobile money fraud, and WhatsApp phishing.
Your Country Kit
Select your country to get your personalised reference: top active scams, the primary reporting portal, your financial fraud path, your data protection authority, and the emergency contact number.
Bookmark or screenshot your kit. Reporting portals are hardest to find when you need them most.
What Every Module in This Section Covers
Each country module follows the same structure:
- The scam types most active in that region right now
- How they work and why they are effective locally
- The specific laws that apply
- The exact portals, helplines, and agencies to contact
- Time-sensitive steps - because recovery windows close fast
The modules are not mutually exclusive. If you live in the UK but your family is in India, both modules are relevant to you.
One Question Before You Continue
Priya called a scam helpline she found online - but the number had been discontinued. She eventually reached the right portal on day three. What was the most significant consequence of this delay?