Indian Consumers Lose 36% More Than Global Average to Digital Fraud

June

2026

The Panjab police have frozen 63,749 bank accounts linked to fraudulent transactions involving more than USD 57M over 2025–26. According to the State Cyber Crime Division, 62,253 cyber crime cases have been registered across Panjab since 2024, and approximately USD 8M has been recovered and refunded to victims, including approximately USD 4M since 1 Jan 2025. During the same period, 62,253 cybercrime cases have been registered across the state. During 2024–25, the percentage of fraud proceeds successfully frozen increased from 16.13% to 23.43%, reflecting a significant improvement in financial recovery. Among the districts, Jalandhar Commissionerate recorded the highest number of frozen accounts at 16,032, leading to the recovery of USD 720K. The police have also undertaken an extensive outreach campaign across the state to strengthen public awareness. The State Cyber Crime Division organized 129 awareness programs in the state—including 50 in Mansa, 44 in Sri Muktsar Sahib, 31 in Ludhiana, 27 in Hoshiarpur, 25 in Jalandhar, 23 in Khanna, and 19 in Bathinda. According to a report by TransUnion—a global consumer credit reporting agency—Indian consumers' median losses to digital fraud were 36% higher than the global average in 2025. Phishing emerged as the most common fraud scheme targeting Indians. Consumers also reported elevated exposure to vishing, smishing, and third-party seller scams on legitimate e-commerce platforms. Additionally, in a major crackdown on the cybercrime infrastructure facilitating digital arrest scams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted coordinated searches at more than 80 locations across 16 states in India, including Panjab. The searches were part of an ongoing investigation aimed at dismantling a targeted network involved in over 200 cases of digital arrest scams. CBI arrested two people from Chennai and Kolkata for their alleged involvement in the incorporation of shell companies, and the opening and operation of mule bank accounts. These accounts were reportedly used for laundering approximately USD 210K of suspected crime proceeds. The CBI had recently unearthed a fraudulent website bearing a URL deceptively similar to the official website of the Supreme Court of India, which was used to deceive victims under the guise of digital arrest (earlier coverage).