According to official data, 19.18 lakh financial fraud complaints were recorded on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) last year, of which 17.18 lakh were processed through the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS).
In 2023, 13.10 lakh complaints were logged on the portal, with 11.33 lakh being handled via CFCFRMS, according to information shared by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
In response to the rising trend, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that more than ₹5,489 crore has been saved in over 17.82 lakh cyber fraud cases since the launch of the CFCFRMS in 2021.
The system, operated under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), allows for immediate reporting of financial frauds, helping authorities prevent further fund diversion. Citizens can lodge complaints through the toll-free helpline 1930 or the NCRP website (cybercrime.gov.in), which supports reporting of all cybercrimes, particularly those targeting women and children.
Overall, cybercrime incidents reported on the NCRP have increased significantly year over year. In 2022, 10.29 lakh cases were reported — a 127.44% jump from 4.52 lakh in 2021. The number rose to 15.96 lakh in 2023, marking a 55.15% increase, and further to 22.68 lakh in 2024, registering a 42.08% rise. While central agencies coordinate cybercrime mitigation strategies, enforcement actions such as FIRs, arrests, and prosecutions are carried out by state and UT police forces.
To strengthen its cybercrime response, the government has launched several initiatives. A state-of-the-art Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) at I4C brings together banks, telecom service providers, financial intermediaries, and law enforcement agencies for real-time coordination. So far, over 9.42 lakh SIM cards and 2.63 lakh mobile IMEIs suspected to be linked to fraudulent activity have been blocked. The ‘Sahyog’ portal was introduced to streamline legal communication with IT intermediaries for the removal of unlawful online content.
In another significant step, I4C launched the ‘Suspect Registry’ in collaboration with banks in September 2024. It currently holds more than 11 lakh suspect identifiers and has enabled the blocking of 24 lakh mule accounts, preventing further losses of over ₹4,631 crore.
Complementing this, the ‘Samanvaya’ platform acts as a central coordination and analytics hub for cybercrime data, facilitating the arrest of 10,599 individuals and uncovering 26,096 criminal linkages. Its ‘Pratibimb’ module maps cybercrime networks geographically and aids law enforcement with techno-legal support.
The government has focused on raising public awareness about cyber frauds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about “digital arrest” scams in his Mann Ki Baat address on October 27, 2024. This was followed by campaigns on Aakashvani, Delhi Metro, newspapers, and social media. A caller tune campaign launched on December 19, 2024, aired messages in 12 languages about frauds like fake loan apps and investment scams.