India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has blocked 3,718 mobile apps and implemented new systems to combat cybercrime, saving over ₹11,158 crore in financial frauds and ramping up awareness campaigns nationwide.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs says the government has blocked 3,718 mobile applications, including fraudulent loan apps, as part of a widening drive against cybercrime and online fraud. In a written reply to parliament, minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay Kumar said the action had been taken by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre under the Information Technology Act, while police authorities also reported the blocking of more than 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEIs.
The ministry said the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, launched in 2021 to help people report financial scams quickly, has played a central role in limiting losses. According to the government’s figures, more than ₹11,158 crore had been saved through action on over 32.80 lakh complaints received by June 30, 2026. The system is designed to speed up intervention before stolen money can be moved out of reach.
Officials also pointed to a newer suspect registry created in September 2024 with banks and financial institutions. The registry, which collects identifier data linked to suspected cybercriminals and mule accounts, has reportedly helped block transactions worth ₹25,698 crore. The government said more than 30.48 lakh suspect identifiers received from banks and 32.08 lakh Layer 1 mule accounts have been shared with participating entities.
To improve response times, the Home Ministry has issued a standard operating procedure for the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and the fraud reporting system. It also said money restoration and grievance redressal modules became operational in April 2026, giving officials new tools to process fund recovery claims, address bank account freezes and clear lien markings more quickly.
The government has also expanded awareness efforts through SMS and caller tune campaigns, social media outreach, television and radio spots, school programmes, cinema advertisements, celebrity endorsements and sports-linked promotions. Reuters reported earlier this year that the authorities have also stepped up coordination in cybercrime hotspots and expanded the wider cybercrime response network, underscoring how fraud prevention has become a broad administrative effort rather than a single enforcement drive.
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