Cyber scams hit Malayalis hard: Rs 1,200 crore lost in three years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayalis have lost Rs 1,200 crore to cyber frauds in the last three years. From fake messages claiming vehicle insurance lapses or cheap mobile recharges, to sophisticated scams involving virtual arrests in the name of CBI, a wide range of cyber crimes are being reported. In the past five years, 86,81 cases have been registered in Kerala.

More than 50,000 complaints have been filed so far. The police have managed to recover Rs 180 crore. Cybercriminals stole Rs 763 crore last year, and Rs 180 crore this year alone. Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram have reported the highest number of victims. Surprisingly, IT professionals, doctors, government employees, teachers, bankers, and even military personnel have fallen prey to these frauds. Most scams originate from North India and foreign countries. Common methods include fake job offers, high-return investment frauds, and online trading schemes. On average, cyber fraudsters steal Rs 85 lakh per day. In 2023 alone, the total loss due to cybercrime in the state amounted to Rs 201.8 crore.

If a victim reports the loss within two hours by calling 1930, the money can often be recovered. However, in most cases, complaints are filed after up to 10 days, by which time the scammers may have already transferred the money to other accounts. So far, around 50,000 bank accounts have been frozen in connection with such frauds.

Cases on the rise (by Year):
2016 – 283 cases
2017 – 320 cases
2018 – 340 cases
2019 – 307 cases
2020 – 426 cases
2021 – 626 cases
2022 – 773 cases
2023 – 3,295 cases
2024 – 3,581 cases
2025 – 406 cases (as of February)

Nationwide statistics:
Rs 22,812 crore – total amount stolen in India in the past year
Rs 33,165 crore – total amount lost in four years

Report cyber fraud:
WhatsApp Helpline: 9497980900

Toll-Free Number: 1930

Website: www.cybercrime.gov.in

‘Fin-Eco System’ Initiative:
To prevent financial cyber frauds, a comprehensive cyber-secure ‘Fin-Eco System’ is being developed with support from the Central Government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

An advanced ‘Cyber Wall’ is now in place to detect scam messages and malicious links. With the help of Artificial Intelligence, it is possible to identify fake phone numbers, websites, and user profiles.