Alarmed by the relentless surge in cyber fraud cases, the top leadership of Kolkata Police has issued a stern directive to its cybercrime units across the city: significantly improve the rate of recovering stolen money for victims. The move comes after an internal review revealed that recovery rates, while improving, have plateaued below the desired level.
New Recovery Benchmarks Set for Cyber Cells
In a high-level meeting led by an Additional Commissioner of Police, senior officers analyzed numerous cases, particularly those involving substantial financial losses. It was pointed out that a recovery of 20% to 30% of the stolen amount had become the "standard" outcome. Dissatisfied with this, the police brass has now mandated all cyber cells to strive for a recovery of at least 40% to 50% in high-value cyber fraud cases.
"We have been set certain standards and asked to meet them," confirmed a police officer who was present in the meeting. The instruction was clear for all divisional cyber cells: actively prioritize fund recovery alongside investigation.
Focus on Coordination and a Dedicated Recovery Unit
Recognizing the critical need for specialized focus, a separate recovery cell was established at the Lalbazar cyber police station. This unit is tasked solely with the complex process of tracing and reclaiming hard-earned money lost to online scammers. While the results from this cell have been encouraging, authorities admit they are still below expectations.
Officials believe that enhancing coordination between law enforcement, banks, and other financial institutions is key to improving recovery rates. Furthermore, the quality of presentation of cases in court needs to be strengthened to ensure successful seizures and returns. The benefits of these intensified efforts are expected to become more visible by next year.
The Staggering Scale of Cyber Losses in Kolkata
The push for better recovery is set against a backdrop of massive financial losses. According to sources, an average of ₹10 crore to ₹22 crore was lost to frauds in Kolkata each month in 2024. Currently, this monthly average has slightly reduced to about ₹15 crore. A significant portion of these crimes is linked to:
- Fraudulent online investment schemes
- Fake hotel booking scams
- KYC (Know Your Customer) update frauds
- "Digital arrest" scams
On an annual basis, the state loses a staggering approximately ₹1,200 crore to cyber fraud. To put the recovery challenge in perspective, police officials noted that until 2024, only about 9.5% of lost money was being recovered. The past 11 months have seen an improvement, with one month even achieving a 30% recovery rate.
"This can be considered a significant success since 2024. However, we have drawn up plans to take this recovery rate to at least 50% in the coming few years," stated a senior officer involved in the planning.
Commissioner's Personal Emphasis on Victim Refunds
Since taking charge, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma has actively worked to curb the rise of cyber fraud. He has consistently emphasized the importance of recovering and returning money to victims in almost every monthly crime review conference. Under his direction, the cyber police station was revamped and the dedicated recovery unit was set up, signaling that returning money to victims is a top agenda item for the force.
The police leadership remains hopeful that with stricter targets, specialized units, and improved inter-agency coordination, the financial blow suffered by Kolkata's citizens from cyber predators can be substantially softened.
