New Delhi: The government has blocked more than 7.81 lakh SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs as reported by police authorities till 28 February 2025.
This measure is part of the broader efforts to combat digital fraud, including scams involving impersonation of law enforcement agencies.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, revealed these figures while emphasizing that cybercrime, including digital arrest scams and financial fraud, has been a growing concern, with 1,23,672 incidents reported in 2024 alone, leading to defrauded amounts of over Rs 1,935.51 crore.
In the first two months of this year, 17,718 cases have already been reported, with financial losses amounting to Rs 210.21 crore.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), established by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been instrumental in tackling cyber fraud.
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) serves as a central platform for victims to report cybercrimes, with state and union territory law enforcement agencies managing investigations.
Additionally, the ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’ has helped in recovering over Rs 4,386 crore through prompt action since its launch in 2021.
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To enhance public awareness, the government has launched extensive campaigns, including newspaper advertisements, social media initiatives and caller tunes in regional languages promoting the Cyber Crime Helpline Number 1930.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the issue in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program on 27 October 2024, urging citizens to remain vigilant against digital scams.
Furthermore, I4C has blocked 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts used in digital arrest scams. International spoofed calls appearing as Indian numbers are also being identified and blocked in collaboration with telecom service providers.
Seven Joint Cyber Coordination Teams (JCCTs) have been set up across India to tackle cybercrime hotspots, while a dedicated ‘Samanvaya’ platform now facilitates cybercrime data sharing among law enforcement agencies, leading to thousands of arrests.
Additionally, the Department of Telecommunications launched the Sanchar Saathi portal and an app to combat the cyber frauds. According to the website details as of 13 March, 29,10,740 lost or stolen mobile phones (which are the major source of conducting cyber crimes) were blocked.
As per the data shared on Sanchar Saathi, a total of 2,48,272 suspected fraud communication complaints were received, while the department has taken action against 5,42,214 cases.
This includes 2,45,278 instances of calls or SMS from 10-digit mobile numbers, 186 cases related to Principal Entities, 2,993 SMS header-related actions, and 1,31,364 SMS template blocks. Additionally, 53,625 WhatsApp accounts, 1,03,585 WhatsApp groups, and 280 WhatsApp communities were disengaged. Furthermore, 4,903 mobile handsets were blocked.
However, with cyber threats evolving rapidly, the government continues to strengthen its approach through cross-border collaborations, coordinated enforcement and technological interventions to safeguard citizens from financial and digital fraud.
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