Cybercrime victims in Coimbatore district lost about ₹36.23 crore over nine months, with investment and trading fraud accounting for the largest share of the losses, according to district police data.
Police received 4,535 cybercrime complaints during the period and urged the public to remain alert to scams ranging from fake KYC requests and investment fraud to digital arrest, phishing and fraudulent online shopping.
How Many Cybercrime Complaints Were Reported?
The Coimbatore District (Rural) Police received 4,535 cybercrime complaints during the nine-month period.
Of these, 2,078 complaints were received through the cybercrime helpline 1930, while 2,457 were filed through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
The figures underline the range of online fraud being reported in the district, with complaints involving investment schemes, online purchases, loan applications, job offers, social media and digital arrest scams.
Which Cyber Frauds Were Reported Most Often?
Cheating through e-commerce and online purchases accounted for 917 complaints, making it one of the most frequently reported categories.
Loan app-related fraud accounted for 415 complaints, while 276 involved job frauds. Police also received 259 complaints linked to APK file-related scams and 201 involving wrong-number calls.
Another 198 complaints were related to matrimonial loan complaints, 183 involved online gambling, 163 concerned credit-card fraud and 162 were linked to investment or trading fraud.
Police also recorded 151 complaints involving social media-related fraud.
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Where Did Victims Lose the Most Money?
Investment and trading fraud caused the highest financial loss among the categories detailed by police. Victims lost ₹15,73,86,766 through such scams.
Cheating linked to e-commerce and online purchases resulted in losses of ₹7,77,29,337.
Job fraud caused losses of ₹3,30,98,751, while APK file-related scams accounted for ₹1,06,61,671.
Credit-card fraud resulted in losses of ₹1,04,08,810.
Together, the reported cyber frauds resulted in losses of about ₹36.23 crore over the nine-month period.
What Cybercrime Methods Are Police Warning About?
District police have warned residents about several methods commonly used by cybercriminals.
In UPI and QR-code fraud, victims may be persuaded to scan fake QR codes or make UPI payments under false pretences.
In OTP fraud, criminals may impersonate bank officials, government representatives or other trusted entities to obtain one-time passwords and carry out unauthorised transactions.
Police also warned about phishing scams involving fake websites, emails, SMS messages and malicious links. In credit and debit-card fraud, criminals may obtain card numbers, CVV details and other card information and use them for unauthorised transactions.
Investment and trading fraud can involve promises of unusually high returns to persuade victims to transfer money.
How Do Online Shopping and Loan Scams Work?
Police said online shopping fraud can involve fake websites or social media pages that collect payments for products and then fail to deliver them.
Loan app fraud involves bogus or malicious loan applications designed to obtain money or personal information from victims.
These methods can appear legitimate to users at first, making caution important when dealing with unfamiliar websites, applications, payment requests and links.
What Is the Digital Arrest Scam?
Police also identified the so-called digital arrest scam as a common form of cyber fraud.
In such cases, fraudsters impersonate law-enforcement authorities and threaten victims, mainly elderly people, by claiming that their bank accounts or other credentials are connected to fraudulent activities.
The fraudsters then pressure victims into transferring money from their bank accounts on the pretext of verification.
What Should Victims Do After a Cyber Fraud?
Police advised people who suffer financial cyber fraud to report the incident immediately through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Rapid reporting is particularly important in financial fraud cases, as victims may have already transferred money or disclosed banking information by the time they realise they have been deceived.
The district police have urged residents to remain cautious about unexpected KYC requests, QR-code payments, OTP requests, suspicious links, unfamiliar loan applications, investment offers and callers claiming to represent banks, government bodies or law-enforcement agencies.
If you have lost money or fallen victim to an online scam, report the cybercrime immediately. Here is a simple guide on where and how to file a cybercrime complaint in India. https://the420.in/how-to-report-cybercrime-online-india/
The420 Takeaway
Coimbatore’s ₹36.23 crore cybercrime losses show that fraud is no longer limited to one method. From investment scams to fake APK files and digital arrests, early detection and immediate reporting through 1930 remain crucial to limiting financial damage.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
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