The government informed Parliament that the I4C’s suspect identity registry has so far helped block cyber fraud transactions worth ₹8,031 crore and identified millions of mule accounts.
To curb cyber-enabled financial crimes, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has blocked more than ₹8,031 crore in fraudulent transactions through its suspect identity registry. Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the registry has played a key role in identifying millions of suspect profiles and mule accounts used for money laundering, helping alert financial institutions across the country.
Suspect Registry Blocks Massive Fraudulent Transactions
According to the government, the “Suspect Registry” was launched by I4C on September 10, 2024, in collaboration with banks and financial institutions. The system has so far identified 1.843 million suspect identities and 2.467 million layer-1 mule accounts, data that has been shared with partner institutions such as banks and payment gateways.
The Home Ministry said these efforts helped block ₹8,031.56 crore worth of suspicious transactions — a major step toward disrupting the financial networks of cybercriminals.
Mule Accounts: The Core of Money Laundering Networks
Kumar explained that mule accounts are often created using forged KYC documents or misused without the knowledge of legitimate account holders. Such accounts are critical in the process of laundering illicit funds obtained through cybercrime.
Fraudulent money is routed through multiple layers of accounts to obscure its origin. The government emphasized that identifying and freezing such accounts at an early stage is key to dismantling organized financial cybercrime networks.
‘Pratibimb’ Platform Maps Criminal Networks
The minister also highlighted the ‘Pratibimb Platform’, a crime-mapping module under I4C designed to track the locations and digital infrastructure used by cyber offenders.
According to the government, the system has so far aided the arrest of 16,840 accused individuals, though the time period for these arrests was not specified. The platform assists state and union territory agencies in network analysis and tech-based investigation of cybercrime operations.
To ensure prompt action against financial fraud, I4C launched the “Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System” in 2021. This platform enables citizens to file real-time fraud complaints.
The minister said that through this mechanism, over 2.302 million complaints were processed, resulting in the successful safeguarding or recovery of ₹7,130 crore. The system has strengthened coordination between banks, payment service providers, and law enforcement agencies.
To bolster digital investigation capabilities, the government has set up National Cyber Forensic Laboratories in Delhi and Assam. The Delhi lab alone has provided forensic support in 12,952 cybercrime cases.
Additionally, through the CyTrain online training platform, 119,000 police and judicial officers have received certifications in cybercrime investigation and digital evidence handling. Another 281 officers have undergone advanced training under the Cyber Commando programme.
Government’s Focus: Securing the Digital Economy
The Home Ministry said that cyber security is being treated as an integral part of national security. Initiatives like the Suspect Registry, Pratibimb, and the Citizen Reporting System are providing India with a technology-driven defence mechanism against cybercrime.
The government aims to build a secure digital ecosystem that ensures public trust while minimizing vulnerabilities in the financial system.
