Coimbatore Loses Over ₹870 Million to Online Fraud in 2025

Residents of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, suffered staggering losses of ₹871.6 million to online fraudsters in 2025, underscoring the growing threat of cybercrime.

According to figures released by the Coimbatore city police, the cybercrime wing registered 9,960 complaints last year. Alarmingly, 7,779 cases were linked to online financial fraud, ranging from phishing emails and fake links to malicious mobile apps and sophisticated social engineering tactics.

Recovery Rate Below 10%

Despite the scale of losses, police managed to recover only ₹76.5 million, leaving the recovery rate at under 10%. Officials said that delays in reporting fraud and the rapid transfer of stolen funds across multiple accounts make recovery extremely difficult.

Arrests and Detentions

Police arrested 60 individuals in connection with cybercrime cases in 2025, with eight detained. This marks a slight increase compared to 2024, when 50 arrests were made, with nine detentions recorded.

Officials warned that fraudsters are increasingly posing as government departments and trusted institutions to deceive victims. Senior cybercrime officials stressed that quick access to bank transaction details is critical for freezing stolen funds. “Any delay slows down investigations and significantly reduces the chances of freezing or recovering stolen money,” an officer said.

Authorities also flagged the widespread use of mule accounts, often opened through lax Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. “These accounts form the backbone of financial cybercrimes. Banks must tighten KYC checks while opening accounts,” the official added.

Police urged citizens to remain vigilant: do not click on unknown links or download apps from unverified sources; verify messages through official channels, and report fraud immediately to improve chances of freezing stolen funds.

A recent disclosure indicates that victims in Telangana lost more than ₹28 million to dating application scams in 2025.