The Centre has blocked 3,718 mobile applications, including fraudulent loan apps, till June 30, 2026, as part of its efforts to tackle cybercrime and protect citizens from online fraud. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) shared the information in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The government has also reported significant success in preventing financial losses linked to cyber fraud through its reporting and monitoring systems.

Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar provided the details in a written reply to a question from BJP MP PC Mohan. The question sought information on the steps taken by the government to identify and stop illicit, fraudulent and misleading mobile applications, including loan apps, that are used to cheat citizens.

"Till June 30, 2026, a total of 3,718 mobile apps, including fraudulent loan apps, have been blocked by I4C (Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre) under Section 69(A), Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000. More than 15.75 lakh SIM cards and 5.77 lakh IMEIs, as reported by police authorities, have been blocked by the Government of India," Kumar said.

The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) has taken these measures as part of the government's wider efforts to disrupt digital fraud networks. Blocking suspicious applications, SIM cards and device identifiers helps authorities restrict access to platforms and communication channels linked to fraudulent activities.

The government has also prevented the loss of more than Rs 11,158 crore through the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS). The system received more than 32.80 lakh complaints till June 30, 2026. The I4C operates the system, which was launched in 2021 to help citizens report financial fraud quickly and enable authorities to act before the money is moved further.

Kumar said the system has helped stop cyber fraudsters from siphoning off funds. "Till June 30, 2026, a financial amount of more than Rs 11,158 crore has been saved in more than 32.80 lakh complaints," the Minister said.

The government has also strengthened its monitoring of accounts and identifiers linked to cybercrime. The I4C launched a suspect registry on September 10, 2024, in collaboration with banks and financial institutions. The registry helps participating entities identify suspicious identifiers and take action against transactions linked to them.

"More than 30.48 lakh suspect identifier data received from banks and 32.08 lakh Layer 1 mule accounts have been shared with the participating entities of Suspect Registry and declined transactions worth Rs 25,698 crore till June 30, 2026," he said.

The MHA has also issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for NCRP-CFCFRMS. The SOP aims to improve the efficiency of the system and bring uniformity to the way cybercrime complaints are handled. It sets out a framework for processing complaints, coordinating with banks, resolving grievances, removing lien markings and restoring defrauded money to victims based on complaints filed through the National Cyber Reporting Platform (NCRP) of I4C.

Two additional modules have also become operational from April 2026. The Money Restoration Module focuses on speeding up the return of defrauded money to victims. The Grievance Redressal Module deals with complaints related to the freezing of bank accounts and lien markings. These measures are aimed at making the process of recovering money and resolving banking-related issues more efficient.

Alongside enforcement measures, the government has expanded efforts to create awareness about cyber safety. Kumar said the MHA has carried out SMS and caller tune campaigns, social media outreach through CyberDost accounts, television and radio campaigns, school programmes and cinema advertisements. The government has also used celebrity endorsements, IPL campaigns and cyber safety awareness weeks in coordination with states and Union Territories to reach more people.

The MHA established the I4C as an attached office to tackle different forms of cybercrime through a coordinated approach. It also launched the NCRP under the I4C to allow citizens to report cybercrime incidents online, with special attention to crimes against women and children. The government has further introduced the 'Sahyog' portal to support faster action against unlawful online content. The portal enables authorities to issue notices to IT intermediaries under the Information Technology Act.

Together, these measures form a broader government response to the growing threat of digital fraud. The blocking of fraudulent applications and identifiers, monitoring of suspicious accounts, quick reporting of financial fraud and public awareness campaigns are being used to strengthen India's cybercrime prevention system and protect citizens from online financial losses.