Kolkata: Kolkata lost Rs 210 crore to cyber fraudsters in 2025. This has come down from Rs 279 crore that was lost in 2024.
Kolkata Police managed to recover 30 per cent of this lost amount in 2025. This was also an improvement from only 10 per cent recoveries in 2023-24.
It was heightened awareness among citizens that helped save around Rs 69 crore of citizens’ money. In future, too, this awareness could act as the biggest deterrent against cybercrime.
The highlights for Kolkata Police in 2025 included restructuring the cyber cell with a unit dedicated to recoveries.
Another highlight was the introduction of a new software relying on AI, which is capable of combating various technology-based crimes, including digital arrests.
Currently, there is one cyber Police statuin under the Detective Department of Kolkata Police where all city complaints are filed.
Additionally, each division has a cyber cell to block and recover money lost to fraud. But they lack the infrastructure to apprehend suspects after investigating the cases. Cyberfrauds
This new initiative aims to address that shortcoming, though there might be a lack of trained and skilled officers to run these new cyber Police stations.
Efforts are underway to establish a cyber Police station in each division of the Kolkata Police.
Separate cyber Police stations will now be set up in all 10 divisions of the city for white-collar crimes or cyber offences.
Kolkata Police wants to recover at least 50 per cent of the lost money. However, non-cooperation from certain business entities and smaller banks creates bottlenecks for the police.
There will be an attempt to develop an SOP that will reduce the response time. Police are planning a meeting with important stakeholders, including co-operative banks, for this.
