More than 21,900 complaints of digital arrest fraud involving over ₹647 crore were registered across India between January 1 and August 31, 2026, according to a status report filed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre and the Ministry of Home Affairs before the Supreme Court.
The court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue on October 17, 2025, after receiving a letter from a Haryana-based senior citizen couple who were allegedly cheated of more than ₹1 crore by fraudsters posing as Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate officers.
The accused allegedly kept the couple under digital arrest through WhatsApp calls and video conferences and used forged Supreme Court orders to intimidate them.
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Complaints Fall, but Losses Remain High
The court had earlier been informed that 123,672 digital arrest complaints involving ₹1,935 crore were registered between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
In 2025, the number of complaints fell to 58,239, involving ₹1,211 crore.
The latest report, filed on October 7, 2026, says more than 21,900 complaints involving over ₹647 crore were registered in the first eight months of 2026.
The report details measures being taken by law enforcement agencies, banks, telecom companies and social media platforms to curb such frauds, recover victims’ money and prevent further losses.
A Grievance Redressal Portal launched by the Home Ministry in February became fully operational across the country in April. As of September 30, it covered 109 banks and 1.28 lakh branches across states and Union territories.
The portal received 93,041 grievances related to cybercrime and cyber fraud, of which law enforcement agencies acted on 60,638.
₹332.7 Crore Restoration Orders Issued
A Money Restoration Portal launched in April has facilitated refund and restoration requests from cybercrime victims.
According to the report, more than six lakh refund or restoration requests were received, leading law enforcement agencies to issue 4.69 lakh restoration orders worth ₹332.7 crore.
Of this amount, banks restored ₹112.96 crore to victims.
The Supreme Court had also directed states to establish State Cybercrime Coordination Centres for faster action and improved coordination. Except for Jharkhand, all states had established such centres, according to the report.
An online e-Zero FIR mechanism is also being introduced, although Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Manipur and Nagaland were yet to operationalise it.
The report said the proportion of complaints processed through e-Zero FIR had increased from 2% to 8% across states and Union territories.
RBI, CBI and Telecom Measures Under Review
The Reserve Bank of India is examining changes to its instructions on bank accounts and money mules, including a draft standard operating procedure requiring stronger due diligence and monitoring of suspicious accounts.
The draft SOP is expected to be integrated with the Grievance Redressal Portal and Money Restoration Portal, with tentative operationalisation targeted for December 2026.
The RBI is also examining safeguards such as delayed transactions or lagged credit mechanisms to reduce customer losses, although banks have expressed differing views over their effectiveness and possible inconvenience to customers.
New RBI instructions on customer protection in fraudulent electronic banking transactions, issued on June 24, are due to take effect on January 1, 2027. They reduce complaint-resolution timelines and provide limited compensation for eligible victims of small-value fraudulent electronic banking transactions.
The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to investigate digital arrest cases involving fraud of ₹10 crore or more. Since December 1, 2025, the agency has arrested more than 49 people and filed chargesheets against over 140 accused, according to the report.
Telecom operators have also introduced limits on the duration of long audio and video calls, while MeitY has discussed additional safeguards with Meta and Telegram.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up the matter again on October 29, while an inter-departmental committee continues to examine proposals on victim compensation and shared liability.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
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