A high-level national conference focused on combating cyber-enabled frauds and dismantling the criminal ecosystem behind them was inaugurated in New Delhi on 10 February 2026, with Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah delivering the keynote address and unveiling key initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s fight against online crime.
Organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in collaboration with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the two-day conference at Bharat Mandapam aims to build a shared understanding of the scale, trends and evolving nature of cyber-enabled frauds that target individuals, companies and government systems across the country.
Certified Cyber Crime Investigator Course Launched by Centre for Police Technology
Amit Shah Highlights Cybersecurity as National Priority
In his opening address, Amit Shah underscored that cybersecurity is now intrinsically linked to national security and that India must accelerate efforts to defend its digital infrastructure, protect citizens, and safeguard economic activity from increasingly sophisticated online threats. He noted that the government has launched several initiatives to tackle cybercrime and urged all stakeholders to join forces in spreading awareness and enhancing preventive measures.
Shah highlighted the role of the I4C platform and its reporting portal, sharing that as of 30 November 2025, around 82 lakh cybercrime complaints had been filed through official channels, with 1.84 lakh cases converted into FIRs and many complaints resolved. He stressed the responsibility of all government departments to contribute to the fight against cybercrime and cyber fraud.
Launch of New Cybercrime Units and Tools
At the conference, Shah inaugurated the new Cybercrime Branch of the CBI — intended to bolster the agency’s capabilities in investigating and prosecuting complex digital crimes — and launched the State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (S4C) dashboard, a real-time monitoring and analysis tool developed by the I4C to improve coordination among states and agencies.
Officials from central and state law enforcement, key departments such as the Department of Telecommunications, Department of Financial Services, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), public and private banks, fintech firms, telecom operators, and cybersecurity experts are participating in the event. The platform is expected to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and integrate efforts across the public and private sectors.
Conference Focus: Understanding & Dismantling Fraud Ecosystems
The conference aims to examine the three primary pillars of the cyber-fraud ecosystem:
- Financial pillar: including mule accounts and money-laundering infrastructure exploited by fraudsters.
- Telecom pillar: involving misuse of SIM cards, eSIMs and digital communication networks.
- Human pillar: addressing issues like cyber slavery and trafficking of people into scam operations and digital fraud rings.
In addition, sessions will explore how artificial intelligence, data analytics and real-time reporting mechanisms can be leveraged for faster identification of fraud, secure fund tracing, improved evidence preservation, and better victim support systems.
Progress and Challenges in India’s Digital Security Landscape
Government officials and cybersecurity leaders noted that India’s rapid digital transformation — with widespread adoption of UPI payments, mobile banking and online services — has greatly increased convenience, but has also left new vulnerabilities open to exploitation by organised cybercriminal networks.
In recent remarks at the conference, Shah pointed out that government agencies have saved or frozen over ₹8,000 crore out of approximately ₹20,000 crore lost to cybercrime through coordinated action by the I4C and partner agencies.
Shah also stressed that cybercrime tactics are becoming institutionalised and technologically advanced, requiring real-time reporting, robust forensic capabilities, widespread cyber awareness, and a coordinated multi-agency strategy to stay ahead of threat actors.
The conference is scheduled to run through 11 February 2026, with planned discussions on prevention, investigation, technology adoption, regulatory frameworks and victim-centric approaches to dismantling the ecosystem that enables online fraud.
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.
