Thiruvananthapuram: Despite awareness drives, police crackdowns and digital monitoring, Kerala lost ₹814 crore to cyber financial crimes in 2025. Official figures show that, on average, nearly ₹2 crore disappeared every single day. Experts say cybercrime has become faster, more organized and increasingly technology-driven.
Banks manage to stop part of the damage
Of the total amount siphoned off, around ₹152 crore was successfully frozen by banks.
Swift alerts from the Cyber Investigation Division — combined with victims reporting incidents early — helped prevent further transfers in multiple cases.
Across the year, Kerala recorded 42,504 cyber fraud cases, resulting in 1,426 FIRs and 680 arrests. Officials caution that the real numbers may be higher, as many victims still choose not to file complaints.
Districts hit the hardest
In terms of complaints, Malappuram topped the list with nearly 4,500 cases, followed by:
| District | Approx. Complaints | Estimated Financial Loss (₹ Crore) |
|---|---|---|
| Ernakulam City | ~3,250 | ₹187 crore* |
| Palakkad | ~3,200 | ₹52 crore |
| Ernakulam Rural | ~3,100 | — |
| Thiruvananthapuram City | ~2,500 | ₹71 crore |
| Malappuram | — | ₹57 crore |
Officials say that since 2022, cyber criminals have taken over ₹1,800 crore out of the state.
The trend line: why the threat is growing
Losses stood at ₹48 crore in 2022, rose to ₹210 crore in 2023, and then surged to ₹763 crore in 2024. The rise in 2025 was modest, but analysts warn the threat now comes from highly organized networks constantly testing new playbooks.
FCRF: “Scams are now industrial-scale operations”
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), cyber fraud today operates like an industrial-scale enterprise — with specialized teams handling data theft, social engineering, payment routing and recovery. FCRF observes:
“People don’t fall only because of greed — they are trapped through a mix of fear, pressure and trust. Deepfake videos, cloned websites and WhatsApp-based scams have emerged as major risks.”
The foundation stresses that speed of reporting, stronger bank–telecom coordination, and faster fund blocking are key to reducing losses.
Who is most at risk
Cyber division data shows the most affected groups include:
- private-sector employees
- pensioners
- homemakers
- small business owners
A majority of cases were linked to trading platforms, fake job offers and gaming/reward schemes.
Crackdown on ‘mule accounts’
Police intensified their focus on mule bank accounts — accounts rented out to route stolen money. In 2025, 44,088 accounts were identified, 34,781 accounts were blocked nearly 14,000 mobile phones and 4,000 SIM cards were disabled
Without disrupting these financial pipelines, officials warn, scam networks will continue to operate at scale.
Top cyber scams in 2025
| Type of Scam | Share of Total Cases (%) |
|---|---|
| Trading Scams | 34.8% |
| Job Scams | 33.0% |
| Phishing / Smishing | 6.5% |
| Investment Scams | 6.5% |
| Loan App Scams | 6.2% |
FCRF recommends making digital literacy mandatory in schools, colleges and workplace training programs.
The big takeaway
The lesson is clear: awareness alone is not enough behavior must change.
Greed, fear and careless digital habits remain the biggest weapons in the hands of cyber criminals. Police and FCRF advise citizens to:
- verify every investment or offer independently
- never share OTPs, PINs or banking credentials
- report suspicious transactions immediately to 1930
Officials say the numbers are a reminder that cyber safety has to become a daily habit not just an occasional warning.
