Last Updated 11:10 AM IST – Credit card fraud is rising sharply in India as digital payments continue to dominate everyday spending. As per the Bank’s reports, there are 13,516 fraud cases involving card and internet payments in FY25, though lower than the previous year, each incident is now leading to bigger financial loss for victims.
Meanwhile, the overall monetary damage from bank frauds skyrocketed to ₹36,014 crore in 2024-25, it nearly three times higher than FY24. Cyber-fraud losses in India surged dramatically as well, ₹22,845.73 crore lost in one year alone, a 206% jump compared to the previous year’s figures.
In short, fewer cases, but much more money stolen each time.
Real-Life Victims — It Can Happen to Anyone
• A Rajkot resident was duped of ₹5 lakh by a scammer pretending to be a “credit card officer” who made him install a fake app.
• Delhi Police found a Noida call centre that siphoned ₹6.5 crore using phishing tactics and fake verification calls.
• Mumbai alone has found upto 20,000+ cyber-financial frauds in less than 5 years. The losses crossed ₹2,000 crore. Source X
• In Visakhapatnam, scammers offering a “free lifetime credit card” stole ₹13 lakh from multiple victims. (Source: Times of India)
These cases show one truth: fraudsters are getting smarter and faster due to new tech, deepfakes, and the AI boom.
What To Do the Moment You See an Unknown Charge
| Timing | Action | Why it Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Immediately | Block card via app/SMS | Stops further loss |
| Within 30 mins | Report unauthorised transaction to bank | Starts fraud dispute |
| Same Day | Send written dispute form + email | Mandatory for refund |
| Within 48 hrs | File Cyber Crime complaint | Legal support |
| Weekly | Check statements | Detect silent fraud |
When reporting to banks, use correct language:
- Say: “This is an unauthorised card transaction.”
- Don’t say: “Maybe someone I know used it.”
The wrong sentence can make the bank deny a refund under “customer negligence”.
Use your bank’s mobile app or SMS code:
- SBI Card → SMS:
BLOCK <Last4Digits>to 5676791 - HDFC/SBI/ICICI → Block in-app within 10 seconds
- Don’t uninstall the app or change phone immediately
Fraudsters often try multiple small transactions first — blocking early prevents bigger theft.
How to Avoid Future Credit Card Frauds
| Protection Tip | Result |
|---|---|
| Disable international transactions when not needed | Blocks risky foreign fraud |
| Use virtual cards online | Keep real card secure |
| Enable every transaction alert | Detect instantly |
| Don’t save card details on websites | Prevent data leaks |
| Keep a low spending limit on rarely-used cards | Controls damage |
Easemoney Tip: Fraudsters test your card with small ₹1–₹50 transactions first. If you see one, act immediately.
Stay alert. A single suspicious message or swipe could save you thousands. Easemoney will continue tracking this trend — and helping you stay two steps ahead of cybercriminals.
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