In recent years, India has witnessed an alarming surge in cybercrimes, particularly financial frauds, driven by rapid digitalization, widespread adoption of UPI, internet banking, and mobile payments. According to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) data, cybercrime cases rose by 24% in 2025, reaching 28.15 lakh reported incidents compared to 22.68 lakh in 2024. Indians lost approximately ₹22,495 crore to these frauds in 2025, with investment scams accounting for over 75% of the total losses. Common tactics include fake investment apps, UPI spoofing, digital arrest scams, phishing calls impersonating banks or police, and KYC frauds.

This trend reflects the double-edged sword of India’s digital growth. While UPI transactions have skyrocketed, so have sophisticated social engineering attacks targeting both urban and rural populations. Even though government initiatives like the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, 1930 helpline, and coordination between RBI, NPCI, and banks have helped in faster fund blocking and some recoveries, the sheer volume of cases highlights a growing challenge.

Closer to home in Tripura, the situation mirrors the national crisis but with its own regional intensity. The following table shows a brief scenario about the data of financial fraud in Tripura -

Cyber fraud, especially online cheating and phishing, has increased significantly, affecting common citizens, students, and senior citizens alike. Northeast states like Tripura, with improving digital connectivity but varying levels of cyber awareness, are becoming soft targets for pan-India scam networks often operated from outside the region.

Financial fraud is not just a law enforcement problem - it is a shared responsibility. While agencies like the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), State Cyber Cells, Police, RBI, and NPCI continue to strengthen reporting mechanisms, fund tracing, and preventive tools, common citizens play an equally critical role. Awareness, vigilance, and prompt action by individuals can prevent most scams and improve recovery rates dramatically.

By educating ourselves and our families, following strict safety protocols, reporting incidents immediately, and staying updated on emerging threats, we can collectively reduce the impact of these crimes. This guide is designed to empower you with actionable Do’s and Don’ts — from the first critical minutes after a fraud to long-term prevention strategies.

Remember: Staying safe in the digital world is a continuous habit, not a one-time effort. Let us build a more aware and resilient Tripura and India together.

Listed here are some majors that should be followed when any financial fraud takes place -

Phase 1: Immediate Actions (First 30–60 Minutes – Most Critical)

Do’s:

1. Stop All Transactions & Freeze Accounts
• Call your bank’s 24×7 customer care immediately (numbers are on the back of your card or bank app).
• SBI: 1800-11-2211 / 1800-425-3800
• PNB: 1800 1800 / 1800 2021
• HDFC: 1800-202-6161
• ICICI: 1800-108-0123
• Axis: 1860-419-5555
• Clearly say: “My account has been fraudulently transacted. Please block my account, debit/credit card, and UPI instantly.”
• Ask for a Fraud Reference Number from the bank.

 

2. Report on National Portal
• Go to https://cybercrime.gov.in [Available 24*7].
• Click “Report Other Cyber Crime” → Choose “Financial Fraud”.
• Fill details carefully: amount, date, time, scammer’s number/UPI ID, how the fraud happened.
• Upload all screenshots and evidence.
• You will get an Acknowledgement Number (save it).

 

3. Call 1930
• Dial 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline) [Available from 09:00 AM – 06:00 PM].
• Tell them you want to report financial fraud. They will guide you and may escalate to the concerned state cyber cell.

Don’ts:

• Do not wait till morning or “see if money comes back”.
• Do not try to transfer money to “safe accounts” suggested by anyone.

Image – Detailled Flowchart of Reporting incident to National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal

Phase 2: Next 2–24 Hours

Do’s:

1. File FIR
• Visit your local police station and file an FIR.
• Alternatively, many states allow online FIR for cybercrime.
• During Visit to Local PS and filing FIR show the acknowledgement received from Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
• Carry printed screenshots and cybercrime.gov.in acknowledgement.

 

2. Secure All Digital Accounts
• Change passwords for:
• Email (Gmail/Outlook)
• All banking apps
• UPI apps (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM)
• Aadhaar, PAN, DigiLocker
• Enable 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) or biometric login.
• Check “Linked Devices” and log out from unknown devices.

 

3. Scan for Malware
• Use trusted apps like Malwarebytes, Quick Heal, or Google Play Protect.
• Avoid using the same phone for banking until scanned.

 

4. Preserve Evidence Properly
• Save everything in a separate folder:
• Transaction SMS
• Call logs
• WhatsApp/SMS chats
• Bank statement
• UPI transaction ID
• Take photos of everything with date & time visible.

Don’ts:

• Do not delete any message or call record.
• Do not click any link sent by the scammer or “helper”.

Phase 3: Follow-up & Recovery (Next 1–30 Days)

Do’s:

1. Track Your Complaint
• Log into cybercrime.gov.in regularly using your acknowledgement number.
• You can also track via the Citizen Portal of your state cyber cell (e.g., Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka have dedicated portals).

 

2. Coordinate with Bank
• Share your cybercrime complaint number with the bank’s fraud team.
• Banks work with NPCI (for UPI) and RBI for fund tracing.

 

3. Credit Freeze (if needed)
• If large amount is involved or identity theft suspected, contact CIBIL/Experian/Equifax to place a fraud alert.

 

4. Seek Legal Help (if amount is high)
• Contact a cyber law expert or approach consumer court / cyber cell senior officer.

Don’ts:

• Do not pay any “recovery agent”, “ethical hacker”, or person claiming to be from “Cyber Crime Department” who asks for money.
• Do not share your OTP, Aadhaar, or bank details with anyone claiming to help.

Common Recovery Timelines in India

• 0–2 hours: Highest chance (70–90% in some UPI cases)
• 2–48 hours: Moderate chance if money is still in mule account
• After 7 days: Recovery becomes difficult but still possible if traced
• Many cases take 30–90 days for full investigation

Most Common Financial Frauds in India Right Now

• UPI QR code / number spoofing
• Fake customer care calls
• Fake investment apps (trading, crypto, gold)
• Digital Arrest / impersonating police
• KYC update / SIM swap fraud
• Loan app harassment

Prevention Tips (Must Follow After Recovery)

• Never share OTP
• Verify every call by calling official bank number yourself
• Use virtual UPI IDs instead of phone number
• Avoid public Wi-Fi for banking
• Keep transaction limit low on UPI
• Install apps only from Play Store / App Store