Maharashtra Reports ₹2,119.69 Crore Cyber Fraud Losses In First 8 Months; Only 27.71 Per Cent Of Money Saved

In the first eight months of 2026, Maharashtra reported cyber fraud losses amounting to Rs 2,119.69 crore, with an average daily loss of Rs 8.72 crore. Despite police intervention, only Rs 587.40 crore, or 27.71 per cent of the total amount, was recovered, leaving victims poorer by Rs 1,532.29 crore. The Cyber Records of Maharashtra received 2,08,767 complaints till August 31, 2026, a decrease from 2,84,281 complaints in 2025 involving losses of Rs 3,536.42 crore, with Rs 617.52 crore saved.

Recovering stolen money has become increasingly challenging as criminals transfer funds faster than investigators can track them, making the traditional Golden Hour less effective due to instant banking and digital payment systems. Mule accounts, operated by economically vulnerable people and unemployed youth, route stolen money through multiple accounts, making it difficult to trace and freeze.

Investigators have found that unemployed youth are paid to withdraw money from ATMs using cards linked to mule accounts. The Centre's CFCFRMS has saved over Rs 11,158 crore across more than 32.80 lakh complaints, but delays in accessing transaction details and obtaining information from banks can hinder recovery. Cybercriminals employ various tactics, including UPI scams, card fraud, phishing, ransomware, identity theft, online shopping scams, and Business Email Compromise (BEC), to target victims.