New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah warned that cyberfraud could escalate into a national crisis if all stakeholders do not act swiftly and in coordination, underscoring that cybersecurity has become integral to national security.
Addressing a CBI-organised national conference on “Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds & Dismantling the Ecosystem,” Shah said India’s rapid digital expansion has heightened the urgency of securing online systems.
Over the past 11 years, the number of internet users has grown from 250 million to more than one billion. In 2024, over 181 billion UPI transactions worth Rs 233 trillion were recorded. Digital payments now account for 97 per cent of transactions by value and 99 per cent by volume.
Shah said institutions, including the I4C, state police, CBI, NIA, ED, RBI, DoT, MeitY and the judiciary, are working together to tackle cybercrime. He highlighted the I4C’s role, noting its portal recorded over 230 million visits and 8.2 million complaints between January 2020 and November 2025, leading to 1.84 lakh FIRs.
Over four years, Rs 8,189 crore has been frozen or returned to victims, against an estimated Rs 20,000 crore in frauds. Authorities have cancelled 1.2 million SIM cards, blocked three lakh devices and arrested 20,853 accused. Shah urged banks to adopt Mule Account Hunter software and ensure rapid response through the 1930 helpline.
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