Digital loot: How to protect your hard-earned money in a rising era of cyber fraud

Cyber fraud has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing threats, affecting citizens across age groups and regions. For many, the experience is sudden, silent, and financially devastating.Consider the case of Abdul Hassan (name changed), a 62-year-old retired schoolteacher from Bokaro Steel City. A message claiming a courier delay prompted him to call a “customer care” number. Minutes later-after clicking a link, entering bank details, and sharing an OTP — INR85,000 of his pension savings disappeared. His story mirrors thousands of similar incidents across India’s expanding digital landscape.

A cybercrime wave in a digitally connected India

India’s digital footprint is vast and growing. Over 86 per cent of households have internet access and crores of financial transactions take place daily. While this marks significant progress under Digital India, it also creates new vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity incidents in India more than doubled, rising from 10.29 lakh in 2022 to 22.68 lakh in 2024. According to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), cyber frauds worth INR36.45 lakh were officially reported by February 2025-though experts believe the real figure is much higher due to under-reporting.

Fraudsters today use sophisticated, personalised techniques to deceive citizens. Phishing messages mimic banks, courier companies, Government sites and telecom operators. The goal is simple-steal identities, money, or access to accounts.

Most common cyber frauds today

1.Phishing via SMS, WhatsApp or email — Fake links that ask users to update KYC or verify bank details.

2.Investment scams — Fraudulent crypto or trading apps promising high returns.

3.SIM-swap fraud — Criminals obtain duplicate SIMs to intercept OTPs.

4.Loan app scams — Malicious apps misuse permissions to extort or overcharge.

5.Romance and social media frauds — Emotional manipulation leading to financial loss.

6.Business Email Compromise (BEC) — Fake corporate emails demanding urgent transfers.

Government’s digital safety tools: Your defence system

To counter rising digital fraud, the Government of India has deployed multiple citizen-focused platforms that act as real-time safeguards.

1.Sanchar Saathi: Securing Your Digital Identity

Launched by the Department of Telecomm-unications (DoT), the Sanchar Saathi portal/app enables:

• TAFCOP (Know Your Mobile Connections): Check all mobile numbers issued in your name and report
• unauthorised ones.
• CEIR: Block stolen mobile phones by IMEI, making them unusable nationwide.
• Chakshu: Report fraudulent calls, WhatsApp messages and SMS instantly.

These tools empower

citizens to monitor and secure their digital identity.

2. I4C and Helpline 1930: Emergency Response for Fraud Victims

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) allows citizens to file complaints at www.cybercrime.gov.in.The 1930 helpline helps victims freeze fraudulent transactions quickly. Speed matters-the quicker citizens act, the higher the chances of recovering funds.

3. TRAI’s DND 3.0 App

This app allows users to block unwanted telemarketing calls and report spam messages, helping reduce fraud attempts originating from unsolicited communication.

How to protect yourself: Simple rules, strong protection

• Never share OTPs, even with someone claiming to be from a bank or Government agency. Always read the context of the OTPs.
• Avoid clicking links in messages received in SMS or WhatsApp; type the official website manually.
• Check your registered mobile connections periodically through Sanchar Saathi.
• Save the Cybercrime Helpline 1930 and the portal cybercrime.gov.in.
• Educate family members, especially elderly and first-time digital users.

Cyber fraud prevention begins with awareness and cautious digital behaviour.

Impact of India’s digital safety measures

• According to the Sanchar Saathi dashboard (DoT, 2025):
• 42.74 lakh stolen or unauthorised mobile devices blocked.
• 26.49 lakh devices recovered.
• Thousands of fraudulent communications reported via Chakshu.

These numbers illustrate increasing public adoption of safety tools and growing awareness.

Strengthening financial safety: New measures

India is also strengthening security in financial transactions. The Department of Telecommunications recently introduced the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI)-a system that warns users when they attempt to transfer money to suspicious mobile numbers flagged for high-risk activities. This early-warning mechanism helps prevent losses before fraud occurs.

Additionally, the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP)-mandated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-helps banks verify mobile numbers linked to the bank account numbers against the Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL). This prevents fraud using recycled or compromised numbers, a common tactic in financial scams.

Stay vigilant: Awareness is your first line of defence

Cybercriminals thrive on urgency and misplaced trust. Taking a moment to verify a call, message, or link can save you from large financial losses. Many scams begin with a simple text, a call, or a link-exactly like the one that trapped Abdul Hassan.

India is moving rapidly toward a fully digital economy. But for a truly Digital India, we must also build a Digitally Safe India. Stay aware. Stay alert. Stay secure.

The writer is a Deputy Director General (DDG), Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) Department of Telecommunications (DoT), GoI; views are personal