Monthly financial losses tied to cybercrime in Kolkata have dipped significantly—from about INR 22 crore per month in 2024 to roughly INR 16 crore per month now—according to senior officials at Lalbazar Cyber Police. The shift follows intensified public awareness campaigns and structural enhancements within the police department.
Revamped Systems Boost Recovery, Slash Losses
The uptick in stolen fund recovery is striking: in 2024, only 9.5 per cent of pirated funds were retrieved. But over the past seven months, this has nearly doubled to 19.5 per cent, with one standout month achieving a 30 per cent recovery. Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma has led the charge, turning reclaiming stolen money into a top priority. A key innovation has been the overhaul of the Cyber Police Station—and the creation of a high-impact fund recovery unit. Meanwhile, each divisional cyber cell has been tasked with tracking and recuperating diverted assets.
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Cybercriminals frequently rely on tactics like OTP theft, fake digital arrest alerts, ATM cloning, and Aadhaar misuse. West Bengal’s annual loss from such schemes averages around INR one thousand two hundred crore—evidence that these trends extend far beyond Kolkata’s borders. The challenge lies in tracing money flows through hundreds of accounts across 20+ states. To counter this, a dedicated recovery cell at Lalbazar is coordinating cross-jurisdictional efforts.
Why This Matters
With daily complaints hovering at 400, daily losses between INR three crore and INR four crore, and national annual losses soaring to INR thirty thousand crore, Kolkata’s success is significant. Commissioner Verma’s strategy—swift audits, specialized units, and public outreach—demonstrates a scalable blueprint for urban cybercrime response.
As cyber threats grow more complex, this case underscores that proactive policing and awareness can genuinely turn the tide against digitally driven financial crime.