The Centre has blocked 3,718 mobile applications as of June 30, 2026, including illegal and fraudulent loan apps, as part of its comprehensive efforts to combat cybercrime and online financial fraud. According to reports from NDTV, this action was taken under the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre using Sections 69-A and 79-3 b of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The blocking operation also encompassed more than 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEI numbers based on reports received from police authorities. The blocked applications include fraudulent loan apps that have been associated with attempts to obtain personal and financial information, impose unauthorised charges or facilitate other forms of digital fraud.
The government's cyber fraud prevention measures have resulted in substantial savings, with over ₹11,158 crore in fraud losses prevented across more than 32.80 lakh cyber fraud complaints reported through the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) since its launch in 2021. As reported by NDTV, these figures were disclosed by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to the Lok Sabha in response to a question raised by BJP MP PC Mohan. The system, launched in 2021 to facilitate immediate reporting of financial fraud and enable swift intervention, has successfully protected the amount across more than 32.8 lakh complaints registered through the platform.
Cyber security incidents in India have experienced a dramatic surge, rising to 29.44 lakh cases in 2025, up from 15.93 lakh cases in 2023, according to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. This alarming trend underscores the growing sophistication and scale of cybercrime operations targeting Indian users. The government's proactive measures, including the blocking of fraudulent mobile applications and enhanced reporting systems, have become increasingly critical as cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics to exploit vulnerabilities in digital platforms.
The government has implemented comprehensive cybercrime reporting infrastructure including the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal for citizens to report cybercrime, particularly offences against women and children, while the Sahyog portal facilitates faster action against unlawful online content. As reported by NDTV, the Money Restoration Module and Grievance Redressal Module became operational in April 2026 to facilitate restoration of defrauded funds and address complaints related to frozen bank accounts and lien markings. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also introduced the Sahyog portal to improve coordination with IT intermediaries, intended to speed up the issuing of notices seeking removal or disabling of access to information, data or communication links being used for unlawful activities.
The government has conducted extensive awareness campaigns through multiple channels including SMS, caller tunes, social media, television, radio, schools, cinemas, celebrity endorsements and IPL campaigns to educate citizens about cyber fraud prevention. According to NDTV, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure for the National Cyber Reporting Platform-CFCFRMS to ensure uniform handling of cybercrime complaints across all law enforcement agencies. These campaigns have been instrumental in raising public awareness about the dangers of online financial fraud and the importance of reporting suspicious activities, particularly as cybersecurity incidents continue to escalate across the country.
