India’s government has blocked 3,718 mobile applications and launched extensive measures, including a suspect registry and awareness campaigns, to tackle rising cyber fraud and online scams, saving over Rs 11,158 crore in the process.
India’s federal government said it has blocked 3,718 mobile applications, including fraudulent loan apps, as part of a wider drive to reduce cyber fraud and online scams. The Ministry of Home Affairs told Parliament that the action was taken by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Information Technology Act by June 30, 2026.
The ministry also said the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, launched in 2021, has helped prevent losses of more than Rs 11,158 crore across more than 32.80 lakh complaints. According to the ministry, the system is designed for rapid reporting of financial fraud so banks and law enforcement can act before stolen money is fully moved.
In a written reply cited by NDTV, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said the government has also blocked more than 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEIs, based on reports from police authorities. He added that a suspect registry launched on September 10, 2024, in partnership with banks and financial institutions has led to declined transactions worth Rs 25,698 crore by June 30, 2026.
The government said it has also issued a standard operating procedure for handling cybercrime complaints through the National Cyber Reporting Platform and the financial fraud reporting system. It said the Money Restoration Module and the Grievance Redressal Module became operational in April 2026 to speed up refunds and resolve account-freeze and lien-marking disputes.
Alongside enforcement, the home ministry said it has expanded awareness campaigns through SMS, caller tunes, social media, television, radio, schools, cinema and cricket-linked promotions. It also said the Sahyog portal was created to help remove unlawful online content faster by letting authorities issue notices to internet intermediaries under the IT Act.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
