India’s cybercrime watchdog has expanded the I4C suspect registry, helping to block over Rs 25,698 crore worth of suspected fraud, as authorities shift focus to preventing digital scams in real-time through enhanced data sharing with banks and telecom providers.
India’s cybercrime watchdog has expanded a data-sharing system that officials say has already helped block suspected fraud worth Rs 25,698 crore, as the government steps up efforts to disrupt digital scams before money disappears through the banking network. According to India Today, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, better known as I4C, has become a central part of that effort by working with banks and financial institutions to flag suspicious accounts, mobile numbers, email addresses and other digital identifiers linked to fraud.
The suspect registry was launched on September 10, 2024, and by June 30, 2026, banks and financial institutions had reported more than 30.48 lakh suspicious identifiers, India Today said. The same update said 32.08 lakh Layer-1 mule accounts had also been identified and shared. Mule accounts are often used by scammers to receive and move stolen money, helping criminals hide the trail and making recovery harder.
The crackdown has also extended to the devices and connections used to carry out fraud. India Today reported that the government has blocked 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEIs, the unique numbers assigned to mobile devices. That effort reflects a broader shift in policy: rather than waiting to investigate losses after the fact, officials are increasingly trying to stop fraudulent transfers at the moment they begin.
That approach comes as fraudsters continue to adapt, using fake websites, messaging platforms, social media, investment scams and threats of “digital arrest” to pressure victims. Reuters has previously reported that cybercrime is increasingly transnational, with money often routed through multiple accounts across different states, which makes rapid information-sharing crucial. The Indian Express earlier reported that, within ten months of the registry’s launch, the centre had already prevented 13 lakh fraudulent transactions and saved Rs 5,111.80 crore, while government statements on the wider I4C system have pointed to more than Rs 8,690 crore saved through the citizen fraud reporting platform by January 31, 2026.
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