India’s efforts to curb digital financial fraud have gained momentum, with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reporting strong early outcomes from a newly deployed monitoring mechanism. The Ministry of Communications said the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FFRI) has helped avert cyber fraud losses of nearly ₹660 crore within six months of its launch.
The system was rolled out on May 22, 2025, and functions through the DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform, enabling early detection of high-risk transactions. Officials said this capability has allowed banks and payment service providers to intervene swiftly—often before funds are irreversibly transferred.
A key factor behind the rapid rollout has been coordinated adoption across the financial ecosystem. Backing from the Reserve Bank of India and the National Payments Corporation of India accelerated integration among banks, payment system operators, and third-party application providers. At present, over 1,000 entities are connected to the platform, all of which are using the indicator for real-time fraud risk assessment.
According to the department, the prevented losses resulted from transaction-level intervention. Participating institutions used the system to flag suspicious activity, decline high-risk transactions, or trigger instant alerts to customers, allowing them to act before money was transferred.
Officials cautioned that cybercrime is becoming increasingly organised and sophisticated. Emerging patterns include digital arrest scams that coerce victims through fear, fake call centres and SIM box networks designed to bypass lawful telecom routes, and large-scale psychological manipulation tactics aimed at vulnerable users. In this context, authorities stressed that technology alone is insufficient without strong public awareness.
The citizen-facing platform Sanchar Saathi was cited as a critical support mechanism. Through its web portal and mobile application, users can report suspicious calls and messages, identify unauthorised SIM connections, and block lost or stolen mobile phones. The department credited alert users as “cyber warriors” and said rising engagement reflects growing public trust in the system.
Emphasising the importance of reporting, officials noted that ignoring fraudulent calls does little to disrupt criminal networks. Reports enable authorities to detect patterns, block malicious numbers, disable fraudulent connections, and prevent repeat offences across telecom and banking infrastructure.
Looking ahead, the department underlined that sustained collaboration among regulators, financial institutions, telecom operators, and citizens will be essential to safeguard India’s expanding digital economy.
