Why India Blocked 3,718 Apps, Disabled 15.75 Lakh SIM Cards Amid Digital Scam Crackdown
The Union Government has blocked 3,718 mobile applications, including illegal loan platforms, and prevented financial losses worth over ₹11,158 crore as part of a nationwide effort to curb digital scams.
The Union Government has blocked 3,718 mobile applications, including illegal loan platforms, and prevented financial losses worth over ₹11,158 crore as part of a nationwide effort to curb digital scams. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar shared these updates in a written response to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, detailing enforcement actions recorded through June 30, 2026.
The telecom and enforcement measures were executed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under Sections 69(A) and 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. In addition to blocking deceptive mobile apps, law enforcement authorities disabled over 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEI numbers linked to suspicious operations. Digital Arrest Scam: CBI Arrests 3 Including Ex-Bank Official in INR 1.6 Crore Cyber Fraud Case.
The saved funds, totaling ₹11,158 crore across more than 32.80 lakh filed complaints, were secured using the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS). Launched in 2021 under the I4C, the system enables immediate reporting and freezing of defrauded funds to stop unauthorized siphoning by cybercriminals.
Institutional mechanisms have also expanded to detect fraudulent behavior before transactions clear. A central suspect registry established in September 2024 in partnership with financial institutions has accumulated data on over 30.48 lakh suspect identifiers and flagged 32.08 lakh primary ("Layer 1") mule accounts. These shared data registries helped decline fraudulent transactions valued at ₹25,698 crore through June 30, 2026.
To streamline victim relief, the Ministry of Home Affairs introduced updated operational procedures and modules earlier this year. A Money Restoration Module and a Grievance Redressal Module became active in April 2026, creating unified procedures for processing National Cyber Reporting Platform (NCRP) complaints, removing account liens, and returning frozen funds to victims. Digital Arrest Scam in Mumbai: Elderly Man in Dadar Kept Under 'Digital Arrest' for 10 Days As Fraudsters Steal Over INR 1 Crore.
Public awareness campaigns, alongside inter-agency tools like the 'Sahyog' portal for issuing removal notices to online intermediaries, continue to support enforcement operations across states and Union Territories.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 11, 2026 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
