As cyber fraud continues to evolve across India, Uttar Pradesh is rapidly building one of the country’s strongest cyber policing networks. With cyber-trained personnel reaching police stations across the state, faster response mechanisms, and advanced investigation tools, the state is positioning itself at the forefront of the fight against online crime.
The Uttar Pradesh Police is preparing to launch a new system to provide significant relief to victims of cyber fraud. Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Krishna announced on Thursday that a system is being developed to refund cyber fraud victims up to ₹50,000 without the need to file an FIR. The state police is working with representatives from 23 banks to prevent cyber fraud.
Detailing the achievements of “Operation CY-Vajra,” the DGP stated that upon receiving a complaint of cyber fraud, a report will be provided by the concerned police station within 48 hours. Based on the report, the victim will be verified, and the refund process will then begin.
Officials say one of the biggest changes has been the establishment of Cyber Police Desks at police stations and outposts (chowkis), ensuring that victims no longer have to travel long distances to report cyber offences. The move is aimed at making cybercrime reporting quicker and more accessible for the public.
The results are already visible. Between April 2025 and April 2026, Uttar Pradesh’s lien rate – the percentage of fraudulent funds successfully frozen before criminals could withdraw them – jumped from 18.3 per cent to 37.3 per cent.
Rajiv Krishna stated that effective action is being taken against cyber crime in Uttar Pradesh, which is yielding positive results. He claimed that both the number of cyber fraud incidents and the amount of fraud have decreased, and the state is performing well in the field of cyber crime control.
UP Police have also stepped up enforcement by blocking mobile IMEI numbers and SIM cards used in cybercrime, making it increasingly difficult for fraudsters to continue operating after being identified.
During the briefing, senior officials said that investigations into several cybercrime cases have found direct or indirect links to networks operating from China, with organised syndicates allegedly using sophisticated technology and illegal call centre operations to target Indian citizens.
The officials said many such networks operate across borders, making cybercrime a global challenge that requires coordinated enforcement.
One of the technologies increasingly being used by cybercriminals is the SIM Box – an illegal telecom device capable of holding dozens or even hundreds of SIM cards simultaneously.
Instead of routing calls through authorised international gateways, a SIM Box converts internet-based international calls into local mobile calls, making them appear as if they originated within India.
This allows fraudsters to hide their actual location, bypass telecom regulations, reduce operational costs and avoid detection.
Authorities say SIM Boxes are illegal in India and have become an important tool for organised cybercrime groups involved in phishing scams, fake customer care calls, investment frauds, digital arrest scams and financial fraud.
Another milestone has been the state’s performance on the CyTrain Portal, the national cybercrime training platform. Against Uttar Pradesh Police’s sanctioned strength of 2,47,385 personnel, 77,654 officers have registered on the platform, while 1,11,349 cyber training certificates have been issued – an achievement that reflects the state’s strong focus on continuous learning and specialised cyber policing.
With trained cyber personnel deployed across districts, better technology, stronger coordination with financial institutions, and a growing emphasis on prevention rather than just investigation, Uttar Pradesh is emerging as one of India’s most prepared states to tackle cybercrime.
On this occasion, the DGP also shared the achievements of ‘Operation CY-Vajra’.
He stated that 773 cyber criminals were arrested in a week under the campaign, while 673 accused were booked under Section 35(3) of the Indian National Security Code (BNSS).
According to the DGP, cyber frauds worth approximately ₹1,158.70 crore were uncovered in the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) cases involving the arrested and restrained accused.
During the operation, police took action against 3,866 mule bank accounts, 17 illegal call centers, five SIM boxes, and 11 illegal SIM vendors. Additionally, ₹53.35 lakh in cash, 911 mobile phones, 75 laptops and desktops, 1,270 SIM cards, 648 debit and credit cards, and other electronic devices were recovered.
As digital fraud becomes more sophisticated, the state’s strategy is increasingly centred on stopping scams before they succeed – protecting citizens, recovering money faster and making cyberspace safer for everyone.