Cyber Fraud: Only 2% of Rs 52,969 Crore Lost Recovered, Govt Blocks Rs 7,647 Crore

• Between April 2021 and November 2025, Rs 52,969 crore was reported stolen in online fraud, but only Rs 167 crore (2.18%) has been recovered for victims.
• The government successfully blocked Rs 7,647 crore from reaching cybercriminals during the same period.
• New directives instruct law enforcement to escalate only genuine complaints for financial intervention to prevent unwarranted freezing of bank accounts.
• A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) emphasizes tighter scrutiny before complaints enter the financial fraud response ecosystem to protect legitimate customers.
• Banks are encouraged to integrate APIs with the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) for faster "put-on-hold" actions and improved coordination.

Why It Matters: Despite blocking significant funds, only a small fraction of money lost to cyber fraud is recovered for victims.