3,718 Loan Apps Blocked; 15.75 Lakh SIMs Deactivated

New Delhi: The Central Government has intensified its crackdown on cyber fraud, blocking 3,718 mobile applications, including fraudulent loan apps, as part of a nationwide effort to prevent online financial scams.

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Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the action had been taken by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) up to June 30, 2026.

According to the government, the apps were blocked under Sections 69(A) and 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The move is aimed at preventing mobile applications allegedly being used to facilitate financial fraud, collect sensitive personal information and deceive citizens.

Government Targets Fraudulent Loan Apps

Fraudulent loan apps have emerged as a major concern, with several complaints involving apps that promise quick and attractive loans before allegedly extracting money or accessing users’ personal information.

Authorities have therefore focused particularly on applications suspected of being used to target citizens through fake loan offers and other forms of online financial fraud.

Over 15.75 Lakh SIM Cards Blocked

The government’s action has not been limited to mobile applications. More than 15.75 lakh SIM cards and around 5.77 lakh IMEI numbers have also been blocked based on reports received from various police agencies.

Blocking suspicious SIM cards and mobile devices is expected to help disrupt communication networks and devices allegedly being used for cybercrime and financial fraud.

More Than Rs 11,000 Crore Saved From Cyber Fraud

The government has also highlighted the role of the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), which was launched in 2021 to enable citizens to report financial cyber fraud quickly.

The system helps transfer information about suspected financial fraud to the concerned agencies at an early stage, allowing authorities to attempt to stop the money from being moved further.

According to government data, as of June 30, more than Rs 11,158 crore had been saved across over 32.8 lakh complaints through timely intervention.

Cyber Fraud Crackdown Gathers Pace

The blocking of fraudulent mobile applications, SIM cards and IMEI numbers is part of a broader government strategy to tackle the growing threat of cyber-enabled financial fraud.

The latest figures highlight the scale of the nationwide crackdown and the increasing use of technology to identify and disrupt suspicious digital networks.

Authorities have also urged citizens to remain cautious while using financial applications. Users should verify the credibility of any loan app before downloading it and avoid sharing sensitive personal or banking information through suspicious links or unverified platforms.

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