With cyber crime complaints steadily rising in Tiruchy district, police officials admit they are struggling to trace fraudsters and recover lost money due to several challenges. Fraudsters operating from outside Tamil Nadu, lack of advanced investigative tools, and delays in legal orders are some of the key reasons, police say.
As per data shared by the cyber crime wing, a total of 10,412 complaints were registered between 2021 and 2025 in the district, involving a total loss of ₹84.51 crore. However, only ₹9.03 crore has been recovered so far, which is just 10.68% of the amount lost.
The highest number of cases was reported in 2024, with 3,970 complaints. Officials point out that many scamsters operate from countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos or from other Indian states such as West Bengal, using mule accounts to move the stolen money. By the time police trace the account, the money is usually withdrawn or routed through multiple layers, they added.
An officer from Tiruchy Rural police said, “Another major hurdle is the lack of advanced investigation tools. While some states like Goa have adopted AI tools to identify phishing links and monitor scam patterns, Tamil Nadu police are yet to get such support. We don’t have access to real-time digital forensic tools, link analysis software, or AI-based scam detection. We need equipment and specialised training. Without that, we are a step behind the fraudsters.”
The officer further pointed out that victims often report frauds too late, making it difficult to recover the money. “Most victims report the fraud too late, by which time the money is already withdrawn. Victims should call 1930 immediately so that bank accounts could be frozen. We conduct awareness drives in schools, colleges, public transport, and on social media. But people need to be alert. Once the money is gone, recovery is very rare,” he added.
An official from the Tiruchy city cybercrime wing explained that most frauds involve multiple layers of criminals. “Most cyber frauds involve at least four or five layers. Mule account holders, commission agents, fake document suppliers, and finally, the masterminds abroad. Even when we track suspects, they turn out to be just an account holder who rented their credentials for a few thousand rupees. Arresting them does not solve the case,” he said.
Another senior cybercrime officer revealed that these fraud networks are highly organised. “Many of these fraud networks are run from buildings that resemble IT companies. They recruit people for tele-calling, managing fake social media pages, or transferring funds. These scam hubs operate like call centres and include people fluent in many languages, including Tamil,” he said.
The officer added that though banks are cooperating better to freeze fraudulent accounts, recovering the money is still a slow process due to legal formalities. “Banks are cooperating better than before in freezing fraudulent accounts when alerted in time. But recovering money requires jurisdictional court orders, especially if the account is from another state. The process takes time and often delays refunds to victims,” he said.
Speaking on the need for better tools, the officer said, “Tamil Nadu police does have some modern tools, but implementation is still pending. If we receive proper support, our ability to solve cyber crime cases will greatly improve,” he added.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
