India's Cyber crime Epidemic: How Kerala Police is Leading the Battle Against Online Scams

On Tuesday, in a major breakthrough, Kerala Police arrested two international criminals involved in the largest registered online scam in the state. The accused, both Taiwanese nationals, defrauded a doctor couple from Cherthala of ₹7.65 crore by promising huge profits through stock market investments. The scam took place between September 2023 and May 2024, during which the couple lost their savings.
Meanwhile, on February 14 in Delhi, a 61-year-old government official from Shahdara lost ₹1.2 crore to fraudsters posing as representatives of a fake UK-based online shopping platform. Lured through social media, she was tricked into making repeated investments under the guise of high returns. When she tried to withdraw her earnings, scammers kept demanding additional payments until she was financially drained.
Headlines like "Widow loses 9 lakh rupees to fraudulent online investment scheme," "Elderly man falls victim to dating scam, losing a huge sum," "Software engineer tricked by fake job offer," "Single mother loses 6 lakh rupees in an online shopping fraud"—are becoming alarmingly frequent. Every day, new victims fall prey to cyber fraud, highlighting the growing menace of online scams in India. Fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to exploit trust and vulnerabilities, leaving countless individuals in financial ruin.
Growing Threat of Online Scams in India

Last week, a woman from Ernakulam, Kerala, received a message from her husband's WhatsApp number. The conversation started naturally but soon shifted to financial matters. Eventually, the sender asked her to transfer money. Sensing something suspicious, she checked the WhatsApp number. While the profile picture displayed her husband’s photo, the number itself was missing. Realising it was a cyber scam, she immediately approached the Cyber Crime Police Station in Kakkanad. Cyber police confirmed that this was a new type of scam.
Since the number was hidden, tracking the fraudsters would be difficult, and they urged people to stay vigilant. The scam typically begins with messages appearing to come from a known contact’s WhatsApp number. However, the victim's phone is already under the scammers' control—usually after they trick the person into clicking a malicious link. Once access is gained, they monitor the contact list and identify potential targets. The fraudsters then engage in normal conversations before eventually requesting money.

The "Pig Butchering Scam" is another cyber fraud that is becoming increasingly common. The name comes from the practice of fattening pigs before slaughter, mirroring how scammers build trust with their victims before stealing from them. Last month alone, three such cases were reported in Ernakulam district, with victims losing a total of ₹7.3 crore. In each case, scammers connected with victims through social media accounts under the names of Kerala-based women. The fraudsters initiated conversations in Malayalam and built a rapport over time. These interactions lasted two to four months, with daily chats strengthening trust. Eventually, the scammers convinced the victims to invest in online trading platforms. Many transferred money in multiple transactions, believing they were making profitable investments. Although they received notifications of supposed gains, no actual money was credited to their accounts. Realising they had been scammed, all three victims approached the police for help.
Beyond Kerala, online scams are escalating nationwide. In a recent case from Mumbai, a businessman lost ₹3.2 crore in an elaborate stock market scam. Fraudsters, posing as investment consultants from a reputed financial firm, lured him through LinkedIn. They provided fake market insights, urging him to invest in what they claimed were high-growth international stocks. Over three months, the victim transferred funds to multiple accounts, believing he was making profitable trades. When he attempted to withdraw his earnings, he was asked to pay additional processing fees. After repeated delays and mounting suspicions, he reported the matter to the Mumbai Cyber Crime Cell, only to discover he had fallen for a sophisticated financial scam.
Like this cyber criminals continuously develop new strategies to defraud individuals, exploiting the growing reliance on digital platforms. Phishing scams trick individuals into revealing sensitive information like OTPs and bank details, leading to emptied accounts. Fake job and scholarship scams target job seekers and students, demanding hefty processing fees for opportunities that don’t exist. Digital arrest scams involve fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers, threatening false criminal charges to extort money. Romance scams emotionally manipulate victims, fabricating emergencies to extract money. Social media and online shopping scams deceive buyers with fake profiles and websites selling non-existent products. Loan and financial aid scams promise easy credit but vanish after collecting processing fees. Fake customer support scams con victims into granting remote access to their devices or making payments for bogus assistance.

Why Online Scams Are on the Rise in India

According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a central agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, India reported a significant increase in cyber crime complaints in 2024. The first nine months alone saw losses amounting to over ₹11,000 crore due to various cyber scams. Stock trading scams accounted for the highest losses, with ₹4,636 crore reported across 2,28,094 complaints. Investment-related scams followed, costing victims ₹3,216 crore from 1,00,360 cases, while “digital arrest” frauds led to losses of ₹1,616 crore from 63,481 complaints. Data from the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) revealed nearly 12 lakh cyber fraud complaints in 2024. Since its inception in 2021, the CFCFRMS has recorded 30.05 lakh complaints, with total losses reaching ₹27,914 crore. A team of international researchers also ranked India 10th in the World Cyber Crime Index, highlighting the country’s emergence as a cyber fraud hub.
The proliferation of online scams in India can be attributed to several interrelated factors. Government policies and the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated digital adoption, pushing millions towards online payments and key public services. However, this rapid digitisation, coupled with increased internet access, has expanded the pool of potential victims. Many new users, particularly from rural areas, lack sufficient digital literacy, making them easy targets for scammers.
Another major factor is the high number of young, technically skilled individuals struggling to find meaningful employment. Many of the accused in cyber fraud cases are well-educated graduates who claim they turned to scams out of necessity. The anonymity provided by digital platforms further emboldens criminals, allowing them to operate across different locations while making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track and apprehend them.
Additionally, a significant portion of India's population remains financially vulnerable. Scammers exploit this desperation by offering fraudulent financial aid, loans, and investment schemes. A key contributing factor is also the weak enforcement of cyber laws, leading to a low conviction rate and allowing scammers to continue operating with minimal consequences.
Kerala's Proactive Measures Against Online Scams

Kerala has been more effective than other states in identifying and tackling online fraud, with the state police demonstrating exceptional investigative expertise. Kerala leads the country in the number of online fraud-related arrests. Kerala Police remain at the forefront of cracking down on online investment frauds disguised as stock trading firms. Their efforts have led to significant fund recoveries and increased public awareness.
Of the ₹700 crore lost through online scams, the state has successfully recovered ₹200 crore in just the past 11 months. A total of 300 individuals, including many from outside Kerala, have been arrested in connection with various fraud cases. The state also leads in ensuring proper registration of scam-related cases.
In 2023, over 20,000 people in Kerala fell victim to online fraud, collectively losing ₹201 crore. The Kerala Police Cyber Wing managed to recover 20% of this amount and blocked 5,107 bank accounts linked to fraudulent activities. However, delayed reporting remains a major challenge, as swift complaints are crucial for effective intervention.
Authorities have urged the public to report fraudulent messages or calls immediately. Victims must act within the critical "golden hour"—the first hour after the fraud occurs—by calling the helpline number 1930. Kerala’s cyber department has proactively blocked thousands of fraudulent websites, bank accounts, and electronic devices used in scams. Despite being a frequent target for scammers, Kerala has displayed remarkable resilience through a proactive approach. The state's police has adopted a multi-pronged strategy that includes rapid response, public awareness initiatives, and technological advancements to combat cyber fraud effectively.
Adding to Kerala’s cyber security efforts, the state has become the second-largest contributor to the national cyber security force. In the National Cyber Commando Selection Exam, conducted by the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) on January 11, 2025, 73 police officers from Kerala were selected. Telangana had the highest number of successful candidates at 172. After six months of specialized training in digital forensics, incident response, and ICT infrastructure security at IITs and NFSU, these officers will become part of the national cyber commando division, strengthening the country’s cyber defenses against rising threats.