CHANDIGARH, June 29: Cybercriminals have siphoned off nearly ₹25 crore from Chandigarh residents in just the first six months of 2025, marking a staggering rise from ₹3.39 crore lost during the same period last year, according to fresh data released by the cybercrime unit.
From January 1 to June 25, the city’s cyber cell received 3,927 complaints of online fraud, yet only 70 FIRs have been registered and 69 accused arrested. Police officials attribute the low FIR count to the nature of digital fraud investigations, stating that not all complainants opt for legal proceedings once their money is traced or temporarily held.
“Several victims withdraw their FIR requests after the funds are frozen. Filing an FIR is not mandatory for the refund process,” a senior cyber officer told this reporter.
But even the immediate freezing of funds hasn’t ensured restitution. Of the ₹5.33 crore held in suspicious accounts this year, only ₹17.14 lakh—less than 1%—has been refunded to victims so far. In 2024, just ₹2.06 lakh of the ₹4.64 crore frozen found its way back to defrauded residents.
“Legal verification and bank approvals slow down the refund process. The longer it takes, the harder it becomes to recover money, especially once it is routed through multiple accounts or converted to cryptocurrency,” the official added.
Cyber experts warn that time is critical in fraud response. The 1930 helpline, a nationwide portal dedicated to cyber financial frauds, is often the first line of defense. Once a victim reports a transaction, a centralized cyber fraud tracking platform—the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS)—is activated to escalate the case to relevant banks.
“If a complaint comes within an hour or two, there’s a real chance to intercept the funds,” the officer said. “But if it’s delayed, or if the money is instantly fragmented across accounts and crypto wallets, our chances drop significantly.”
Cybercriminals are increasingly deploying automated software to divert funds across dozens of accounts within seconds. The proceeds are often laundered through cryptocurrency, notably USDT (Tether), and routed offshore to countries such as China, Hong Kong, and Dubai—making the recovery process both complex and jurisdictionally sensitive.
This year’s arrests—69 so far—exceed the 44 made during the same period in 2024. Yet, police admit these detentions seldom lead to the masterminds. In many instances, the individuals arrested are mere conduits—bank account holders who lease their credentials for commissions as low as 1% of the scam proceeds.
“These individuals often belong to economically weaker communities and have no clear idea of the scale or scope of the crime. They’re foot soldiers in a much larger operation,” said another cybercrime investigator.
A recent probe into a ₹3.5 crore “digital arrest” scam revealed just how deeply layered such operations are. Nearly ₹3 crore of the stolen funds passed through more than 150 bank accounts before disappearing. Each step in this complex laundering process is designed to obstruct the investigative trail, allowing the masterminds to remain beyond reach.
Many cybercrime cases are traced back to certain hotspot regions in India, including parts of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Rajasthan, which central agencies have flagged as active hubs of digital fraud syndicates. Chandigarh Police has made multiple arrests in these states, often working in tandem with local enforcement.
Despite the rising number of arrests and growing public awareness, police officials admit that the syndicates remain resilient and technologically ahead. “We’re catching the runners, but the brains behind these frauds are elusive. Until there’s stronger regulation and inter-agency cooperation—national and international—the syndicates will keep evolving,” the official said.
As Chandigarh continues to battle this silent but costly digital menace, cyber officials are urging residents to remain alert, act fast, and report suspicious transactions without delay.
