Last Updated:January 27, 2026, 07:00 IST The Centre has asked law enforcement agencies to ensure only genuine complaints are escalated to avoid unwarranted freezing of bank accounts and resulting hardships The Centre’s tighter escalation rule and API-led coordination are expected to hit cybercriminals faster and protect citizens from disruption caused by mistaken freezes. (Image for representation) Despite blocking Rs 7,647 crore from reaching cybercriminals, only Rs 167 crore – around 2.18 percent of the Rs 52,969 crore reported stolen in online fraud between April 2021 and November 2025 has been restored to victims, as per a government document. In a move aimed at balancing swift action against cyber fraud with safeguards for victims, the Centre has asked law enforcement agencies to ensure that only genuine complaints are escalated for financial intervention to avoid unwarranted freezing of bank accounts and resulting hardships. The direction is part of an operating procedure governing the custody and recovery of money, along with grievance redress, under the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management …