Cyber fraud stopped at source: How India’s FRI system saved ₹5,000 crore—and 6 steps to protect your money

What if your money could be saved before a cyber fraud takes place? A government-backed system is working to do just that by identifying potentially risky mobile numbers and helping financial institutions flag suspicious transactions before the money leaves customers’ accounts.

The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has helped prevent suspected cyber fraud losses of more than ₹5,000 crore in the 15 months since its launch on 22 May 2025, according to a Ministry of Communications press release dated 8 September 2026.