Chandigarh: In a major announcement during the ongoing Budget Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Nayab Singh Saini said the Haryana government is considering introducing a dual OTP verification system for bank-linked transactions involving senior citizens to curb cyber fraud and so-called digital arrest scams. The Chief Minister asserted that Haryana’s aggressive, technology-driven crackdown on cybercrime has already begun delivering measurable results, with both cybercrime cases and financial losses declining significantly in 2025.
Replying to a question raised by Aftab Ahmed during Question Hour, the Chief Minister informed the House that cybercrime cases in the state declined from 6,054 cases in 2024 to 5,000 in 2025, registering a fall of nearly 17 percent. Fraud-related cases also dropped sharply from 9,804 in 2024 to 6,324 in 2025, reflecting a reduction of around 36 percent.
He further stated that the financial impact on victims has also reduced considerably, with the total amount lost in cyber frauds coming down from ₹980 crore in 2024 to ₹632 crore in 2025, again marking a decline of nearly 36 percent.
Total Cases Also Declined in Current Financial Year
Providing updated figures for the ongoing financial year, the Chief Minister said the total number of cybercrime cases fell from 6,054 in FY 2024–25 to 5,831 cases in FY 2025–26 up to February 15, 2026.
According to the government, this reduction is the result of stronger coordination between police, banks, cyber experts, and digital monitoring units established across the state.
Dual OTP Proposal for Senior Citizens to Prevent Digital Arrest Fraud
Addressing growing concern over cyber fraud targeting elderly citizens, Nayab Singh Saini said people above 60 years of age are among the most affected victims in cybercrime and digital arrest scams.
He explained that under the proposed dual OTP system, whenever a bank-linked digital transaction is initiated by an elderly account holder, the OTP would be sent not only to the senior citizen but also to their child or designated family member.
The transaction would only be completed after both OTPs are entered.
According to the Chief Minister, this additional verification layer is expected to significantly reduce fraud cases involving senior citizens, particularly those where criminals manipulate victims through fear, fake legal threats, or impersonation.
1930 Cyber Helpline Working with Dedicated Police and Bank Teams
The Chief Minister highlighted the functioning of the 1930 cybercrime helpline, which currently operates with a dedicated team of 74 trained police officials who immediately register complaints and initiate action to block defrauded money.
He said that to ensure immediate intervention during fraud cases, 16 nodal officers from 11 major banks are physically stationed at the call centre during banking hours. After banking hours, these officers remain available on call for urgent action.
In addition, a 24×7 bank follow-up unit has been created to coordinate with banks and financial intermediaries not physically present at the centre.
This arrangement has significantly improved response time in freezing suspicious transactions and recovering money before it is withdrawn by fraudsters.
Special Teams Created to Track Mule Accounts, Fake Links and Fraud Devices
As part of Haryana’s cybercrime control strategy, the government has deployed several specialised technical units.
A Mule Account Target Team has been tasked with identifying and blocking bank accounts used repeatedly in cyber frauds. The team also flags suspicious bank branches where fraudulent accounts are frequently opened.
A Mobile Blocking Unit has been established to immediately block mobile numbers and devices being used by cybercriminals.
A URL Blocking Unit is actively monitoring digital platforms, websites, and social media to identify and remove fraudulent links, fake applications, deepfake content, and online misinformation used in scams.
These technical units are functioning in coordination with law enforcement and cyber experts to stop fraud networks at multiple levels.
Cyber Cells Established Across Haryana Sub-Divisions
The Chief Minister informed the Assembly that cyber cells have now been established at every sub-division level in Haryana, strengthening local-level cyber policing.
He also said the state is implementing the e-Zero FIR initiative in coordination with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.
The initiative allows rapid registration of cybercrime complaints, helping victims begin the legal process without delay and improving the speed of investigation.
Haryana Intensifies Technology-Led Cyber Security Strategy
Officials believe Haryana’s current cyber security model is becoming one of the most structured state-level responses to rising digital fraud in India.
With falling fraud numbers, faster complaint registration, stronger bank coordination, and proposed preventive systems such as dual OTP verification, the government is aiming to create a stronger digital protection framework—particularly for vulnerable groups like senior citizens.
The proposed dual OTP mechanism, if implemented, could become a model for other states facing similar cybercrime patterns.
