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This achievement is largely due to the quick action within the first eight hours after a cyber crime is reported, a dedicated 1930 cyber helpline, and close coordination with banks.
Between January 2024 and April 2025, a total of Rs 147.74 crore was recovered by Gujarat Police, compared to Rs 218.16 crore recovered in the entire four-year period since 2020. However, during these 15 months, the total loss due to cyber frauds stood at a massive Rs 1,761.73 crore — indicating that about 8% of the lost money was recovered, compared to 7% recovery in the years prior.
In 2024 alone, Rs 113.33 crore was returned to victims, while Rs 34.41 crore has been recovered so far in 2025.
To speed up the refund process, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday launched a new initiative — the Cyber Crime Refund Portal called “Tera Tujhko Arpan”. This will allow victims to verify their bank accounts online instead of physically visiting a police station, making the refund process faster and smoother.
Speed is Key
According to Gujarat Cyber Crime Superintendent Dharmendra Sharma, if victims report the fraud within eight hours, the police are able to recover the money in 80% of the cases. “Cyber crime is like a road accident — timely help can save the situation,” he said.
However, in many cases like investment scams or digital arrests, victims don’t realize the fraud for days or even weeks. These types of crimes often originate from foreign countries, and the stolen money is converted into cryptocurrency, making recovery more difficult.
Rs 672 Crore Frozen
Police officials revealed that around Rs 672.55 crore of cyber crime money has been traced and frozen since 2020, and is awaiting court approval to be refunded to the victims.
Fraudsters operating from India mostly target people through marketplace scams, identity frauds, and fake insurance schemes. Such scams often have a higher recovery rate because they are committed domestically. States like Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha have been identified as hotspots.
Biggest Cyber Fraud Cases in Gujarat
• In one investment scam, over Rs 7 crore was stolen. The police recovered Rs 5 crore after arresting the main accused.
• A fake online gaming racket led to the arrest of seven people.
• A marketing scam duped victims of Rs 3 crore, out of which Rs 30 lakh has been recovered.
• In another case, Rs 1.8 crore was recovered after the arrest of a fraudster.
• A fraud involving a fake website saw recovery of Rs 8 lakh, almost the entire stolen amount.
Improved Recovery Rate
Gujarat has increased its cyber crime recovery rate to 23% in 2025, up from 22% in 2024, and almost double the recovery rate of 11.5% in 2020.
This has been made possible due to a strong cyber helpline team. The 1930 call center in Gujarat is manned by 150 people, including 60 police officers, making it the largest in India. Victims receive a callback quickly, and once the money is traced and frozen, they receive an SMS notification.
Better Banking Coordination
Thanks to RBI directives, banks now have quick response teams to act on cyber crime reports. Unlike earlier, when delays were common, now both regional and central bank teams work closely with the police to freeze fraudulent transactions in real time.
Court processes have also been streamlined. Instead of waiting for Lok Adalats, most refund cases are now handled through regular court hearings, increasing the chances of victims getting their money back.
Conclusion
With tech-savvy crime on the rise, Gujarat’s model of rapid reporting, coordination, and strong follow-up offers a ray of hope. The state has emerged as one of the top performers in the country for cyber crime detection and recovery — proving that fast action and awareness can make all the difference.
Tags:
Cybercrime in India
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