Lalbazar Issues Strict Directive: Recover at Least 50% of Funds Lost in Cybercrime; Monthly Losses Touch ₹10–22 Crore
Kolkata. Amid rising cases of cyber fraud and the mounting financial losses suffered by citizens, Kolkata Police has issued a sharp directive to all cyber units across the city: significantly improve the recovery rate of defrauded money.
The instruction follows an internal review that revealed that recovery has been hovering between 20% and 30%, far below what senior officials expect, especially when several high-value fraud cases involve losses running into crores.
Dedicated Push for Recovery; Special Cell Operational at Lalbazar
During a comprehensive review headed by an Additional Commissioner of Police, officers were told that in high-value fraud categories — such as investment scams, digital arrest frauds, fake hotel bookings, and KYC-based phishing — cyber teams must ensure a minimum 40%–50% recovery through rapid intervention.
Lalbazar’s Cyber Police Station already houses a dedicated Recovery Cell, coordinating with banks, payment gateways and financial institutions to trace, freeze and reclaim stolen funds.
However, senior officers admitted that while performance has improved, it remains “below the desired benchmark.”
Monthly Losses Between ₹10–22 Crore in 2024
Data presented in the meeting revealed that through 2024, Kolkata suffered monthly cyber fraud losses of ₹10 crore to ₹22 crore.
While this figure has recently declined to around ₹15 crore per month, officials attribute the drop primarily to quick account freezing and enhanced recovery operations, rather than increased public awareness.
Recovery Climbs From 9.5% to 30%, But Still Far From Target
Top officials noted that until last year, the overall recovery rate was a mere 9.5%. Over the past 11 months, targeted interventions have pushed recoveries to as high as 30% in certain periods.
Even then, the average remains well below the new target.
West Bengal as a whole loses nearly ₹1,200 crore every year to cybercrime, with online investment and trading scams accounting for the largest share.
Bigger Challenges: Coordination With Banks, Courts and Real-Time Tracking
Cyber experts and investigators pointed out three major obstacles that continue to hamper high recovery rates:
- Delayed cooperation from banks and payment gateways
- Strengthening case presentation in courts
- Real-time monitoring of fast-moving digital transactions
An officer said, “We are racing against seconds. Money often moves out of the country within minutes. The faster we act, the more we recover.”
Commissioner Verma’s Priority: “Recovery Is As Vital as Arrests”
According to senior officers, Kolkata Police Commissioner has placed cybercrime among the department’s top priorities since taking charge.
In every monthly crime conference, cyber units are reminded that “recovering the victim’s money is as important as arresting the offenders.”
Under his direction, the Cyber Police Station has been technologically upgraded and a specialized Money Recovery Unit has been strengthened to handle high-value cases.
Impact Expected by 2025: Faster Forensics, Stronger Protocols
Officials estimate that a combination of:
- enhanced inter-agency coordination,
- quicker digital forensics, and
- new fund-freezing protocols
will begin showing visible, substantial results by late 2025.
Senior officers believe that while the challenge is significant, the introduction of specialised systems and structured recovery models will make the 50% recovery target achievable in the coming years.
