India has lost more than Rs 52,000 crore to cyber fraud over the past five years, officials said, as the Department of Telecommunications highlighted the scale of financial crime alongside a wider anti fraud drive that has led to the disconnection of crores of suspicious mobile numbers and the freezing of lakhs of bank accounts.
DoT Flags Scale of Cyber Fraud Losses
Officials said that out of around 60 lakh cyber fraud complaints received during the period, more than 3,000 cases have been resolved and six cyber fraud setups have been busted. The figures were shared on the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on May 17 by the Department of Telecommunications, Mumbai Licensed Service Area.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Friday, Ajay Kamal, Deputy Director General (Administration), Mumbai LSA, said the Telecommunications Act, 2023, along with the Telecommunications Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, had significantly strengthened India’s digital governance and legal framework. He added that Artificial Intelligence driven systems are increasingly being deployed for governance, fraud detection and network security.
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Kamal also said the Telecommunications Right of Way Rules, 2024, implemented in Maharashtra from January 1, 2025, had streamlined telecom infrastructure deployment through a centralized portal for mobile towers and optical fibre installations. According to him, the department currently maintains 99.999 per cent telecom network uptime through system redundancy and regular security audits.
Anti Fraud Measures and Digital Safeguards Expanded
Officials also highlighted the proposed Biometric Identity Verification System Draft Rules, 2025, which mandate biometric verification for telecom users to prevent impersonation and identity fraud. Under the proposed framework, impersonation related offences may attract penalties of up to three years in prison and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh.
Ashish Pathak, Additional Director General (Telecom), Mumbai LSA, said telecommunications had become an essential component of modern life and that the Government of Maharashtra, in coordination with telecom authorities, was actively implementing measures to curb cybercrime and strengthen digital safety.
Citizens were urged to report incidents of financial fraud immediately through the national cybercrime helpline number 1930, preferably within 24 hours of the incident. Among the key citizen centric initiatives mentioned by the department was the Sanchar Saathi mobile application, which has recorded over 1.7 crore downloads and more than 23 crore portal visits.
Numbers Blocked, Accounts Frozen in Coordinated Drive
Officials said the platform allows users to block lost or stolen mobile phones, report telecom related fraud and track suspicious activity. They added that nearly 10 lakh handsets worth more than Rs 1,250 crore have been blocked or traced through the initiative, while more than 10 lakh handsets worth over Rs 1,250 crore have also reportedly been recovered.
According to the department, 3.4 crore suspicious mobile numbers have been disconnected, 2.27 lakh fraudulent IMEI linked handsets blocked, and more than 16.97 lakh WhatsApp accounts linked to cyber fraud deactivated. Data related to disconnected numbers is being shared with over 1,200 organisations, including banks, financial institutions, UPI service providers and law enforcement agencies.
Officials said this coordinated effort has resulted in the freezing of more than 59 lakh suspicious bank accounts, preventing losses exceeding Rs 1,000 crore. They also said the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator system has enabled banks and financial institutions to prevent fraud in real time. Pathak added that engineering college students have been empanelled to spread awareness about mobile towers and radiation concerns, that new telecom towers are increasingly being equipped with solar panels, and that more than 100 5G laboratories have been introduced in engineering colleges across the country.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
